Austin, Texas ? If Texas wanted a rough-and-tumble game before heading into Big 12 Conference play, the Longhorns got it.

Beefy sophomore forward P.J. Tucker scored four points in the final 42 seconds, including a fast-break dunk after a turnover, and No. 15 Texas powered past Memphis for a rugged 74-67 victory Thursday night.

“I got a gift,” Tucker said. “Then I made the highlight play.”

Texas led, 69-67, when the Longhorns pressured Memphis guard Darius Washington into losing the ball as the shot clock was winding down.

Tucker tipped the ball forward, picked it up and raced downcourt to throw down a one-handed jam over Memphis’ Rodney Carney.

“I knew I had to dunk the ball because Carney is so athletic and can jump up to block the shot,” Tucker said.

He wasn’t done. Tucker, who led Texas with 18 points, was fouled after rebounding Washington’s missed three-pointer and hit both free throws with 17 seconds left to seal the victory.

“They’ve got a guy like Tucker who makes every big play, every free throw, every rebound you need to win the game,” said Memphis coach John Calipari, whose team lost for the fifth time in seven games.

Daniel Gibson added 17 points for the Longhorns (11-2).

Texas' P.j. Tucker, left, fights for the ball with Memphis' Simplice Njoya. Tucker scored four of his team-high 18 points in the final 42 seconds of the 15th-ranked Longhorns' 74-67 victory Thursday in Austin, Texas.

Washington scored 23 points, and Carney had 18 for Memphis (7-7).

The game showcased a flashy backcourt matchup between freshmen point guards Washington and Gibson.

Both were All-Americas in high school and showed off their strengths. Washington used his slippery quickness to drive to the basket for layups while Gibson hit three three-pointers, the last giving Texas a 66-63 lead with 4:07 left after Washington had just tied it.

After getting beat by Washington all night, Gibson finally created a turnover during the decisive possession.

The teams played a rough, physical contest from the opening tipoff as Memphis’ beefy frontcourt challenged Texas on every ball near the basket and players from both teams dived to the floor in wild chases for loose balls.

“It was the most physical game we’ve played all year and we responded well to that,” Texas coach Rick Barnes said.