NCAA Game Summary - George Washington vs. Memphis

Raleigh, NC (SportsNetwork.com) - Michael Dixon Jr. capped off a 19-point performance by hitting four critical free throws in the final 10 seconds that allowed Memphis to hold on for a 71-66 victory over George Washington in an NCAA Tournament East Region second-round clash.

Dixon finished 6-of-9 from the field and Joe Jackson tallied 15 points and six assists in a game Memphis (24-9) never trailed, but had to ward off a determined Colonials team in the closing stages.

"We beat a very good GW team," said Tigers head coach Josh Pastner. "They're very well coached and have a lot of good players. To be able to win the game and lead the entire game from start to finish is a great thing."

The win advances the eighth-seeded Tigers to Sunday's third round, where they'll face No. 1 seed Virginia after the Cavaliers' 70-59 win over Coastal Carolina.

George Washington (24-9), making its first NCAA trip since 2007 and playing without second-leading scorer Kethan Savage due to a broken foot, received 21 points from Isaiah Armwood and 16 out of Kevin Larsen.

"They were terrific offensively," said Colonials head coach Mike Lonergan. "We had to go inside -- our starting backcourt was 3 for 19 from the field. "But you've got to give Memphis credit. They're a good team. We just couldn't get over the hump. [The lead] stayed at five way too long. We couldn't quite get all the way back in the game."

Maurice Creek, the Colonials' top point producer on the season, managed just nine on a 2-of-13 shooting rate.

The Tigers controlled the game virtually the entire way and owned a 64-55 lead with under four minutes remaining, but still had to battle down the stretch after George Washington made one late desperate push.

Creek drilled a 3-pointer off a screen and Patricio Garino scored in transition off a Memphis turnover with 2:39 left, concluding a 7-0 run that brought the Colonials within 64-62.

Dixon answered, however, with a clutch 3-pointer on the ensuing possession.

"I called a timeout to get Michael in the game," said Pastner of the play. He was subbed and there was 19 [seconds] on the shot clock. I didn't like where we were at. I called time out, wanted to get him in. Because he made the shot, it looked like I made the right substitution. Players make shots, coach looks good. Players don't make shots, coach doesn't look good."

The Tigers proceeded to turn it over on their next two trips, though, and the Colonials took advantage.

Two Creek free throws and Joe McDonald's acrobatic layup with 15 seconds to go made it a one-point game at 67-66. Dixon was then fouled on the inbounds and calmly sank both bonus attempts, then made two more after Creek air-balled a 25-footer on GW's last gasp.

"I knew the ball was coming to me and [my teammate] was giving me a great screen," said Creek of the final shot. "I caught the ball cleanly and it didn't fall. And I felt like I got a great look. The best look I was going to get and it just didn't fall."

The Colonials could never completely recover from a 16-6 Memphis run midway through the first half that snapped an early 10-10 deadlock.

Strong defense fueled the surge, as the Tigers held George Washington without a field goal for more than 7 1/2 minutes and induced five turnovers during the pivotal stretch, which Dixon capped with a 3-point play with 7:56 left in the period that came after a long-range three from Jackson.

Aided by four key Tigers saddled to the bench with two fouls, the Colonials closed the gap behind an 8-2 spurt that cut the lead to 28-24, and trailed 31-26 at the half after Larsen converted a layup with 39 seconds remaining.

Larsen topped all players over the opening frame with 10 points on 4-of-4 shooting, but Creek was held scoreless while going 0-of-4 from the field.

Creek briefly broke out of his drought by burying a trey on the Colonials' initial possession of the second half, which was followed by Armwood's inside bucket that pulled George Washington within 33-31. Back-to-back baskets by Austin Nichols, however, ignited an 8-3 Tigers' flurry that extended the margin back to seven points.

Memphis created some more distance not long afterward, with Dixon's driving lefty layup and Jackson's fast-break score off a Crawford steal jump-starting a 6-0 run that created a 51-41 differential with 12 minutes to go.