UNIVERSITY PARK – After 3½ seasons of struggle, SMU coach Matt Doherty finally got a win his program can hang its hat on.

Saturday's 70-60 win over Memphis, which played in the national championship game just two years ago, was just such a milestone for SMU.

"You always want to get a signature win and we haven't had one," Doherty said. "To me, this was it."

SMU (10-10, 3-3 in Conference USA) won its fourth game in a row in handing Memphis (15-6, 5-2) its second conference loss in 68 C-USA games.

The Mustangs won on the strength of 6-9 forward Papa Dia, who scored a career-high 23 points and tied another career high with 14 rebounds.

"I've been here three years, and this is the biggest win since I've been here," said Dia, who was beaming after the game. "I was just really excited. I've never had this kind of feeling before."

SMU also won because of the clutch play of point guard Derek Williams, who scored 25 points while making 14 of 15 free throws. Williams hit 11 out of 12 in the final 1:50.

"I just go back to the TCU game," said Williams, who missed two crunch-time free throws in a December loss to TCU. "I didn't want to make the same mistake again."

This SMU team didn't make the mistakes previous editions have against Memphis. SMU had lost all seven previous meetings in C-USA play.

Trailing by five at halftime, SMU went on a 7-1 run to start the second half.

When Memphis went up again by five, 39-34, SMU answered with a 12-2 run capped by a 3-pointer from Rodney Clinkscales, who had just come off the bench.

Memphis drew within 50-48 with 4:31 left when Elliot Williams scored two of his 19 points. But Doneal Mack missed the front end of a one-and-one that could have tied the score with 2:59 left.

Dia blocked a shot, then hit a short jumper for a 52-48 lead with two minutes left. Williams' free throws kept it at least a two-possession game the rest of the way.

"We're just confident about ourselves," Dia said. "We know that we can beat anybody in our conference."

It was an impressive performance under pressure for an SMU team that, until now, had been defined by its blowing a 24-point lead against 25th-ranked UAB two weeks ago.

"I don't think we got rattled down the stretch like we did against UAB," Doherty said. "I think our team grew up tonight."

SMU hasn't lost since that collapse against UAB and was able to show the second-biggest home crowd of the season (4,034) just how much it has matured.

About the only thing that irked Doherty was that some of his players began celebrating with the students who rushed the court at the end. The plan was to make a dignified exit, then celebrate in the locker room.

"They didn't listen," Doherty said. "But that's OK."

Keith Whitmire is a Dallas freelance writer

SMU's 70-60 win Saturday was its first over Memphis in eight meetings in C-USA. A look at some of the close calls (all at Moody Coliseum):

Feb. 4, 2009: SMU led, 41-39, with 13:43 left, but Memphis went on a 21-5 run and won, 79-66.

March 5, 2008: SMU was within 10 points of the lead with 12:44 left but couldn't draw any closer in a 72-55 loss.

March 3, 2007: Memphis was 15-0 in league play while SMU was 2-13, but Devon Pearson hit a 3-pointer to pull the Mustangs within 62-61 with 13 seconds left. Memphis' Chris Douglas-Roberts missed two free throws but got the rebound, was fouled again and made both foul shots for a 64-61 win.