No. 21/22 Tigers Handle Business with 64-62 Victory at Virginia

Wednesday, December 18

Charlottesville, Va.

6:00 PM

University of Memphis

9-2,0-0AAC

Virginia

6-5,0-1ACC

Memphis

Virginia

No. 21/22 Tigers Handle Business with 64-62 Victory at Virginia

Dec 18, 2024 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The No. 21/22 University of Memphis men's basketball team came out on top over the Virginia Cavaliers, 64-62, Wednesday night at John Paul Jones Arena.

Head Coach Penny Hardaway improved to 6-0 in his career against Atlantic Coast Conference teams.

The Tigers shot 37.5 percent for the game, led by redshirt-sophomore guard PJ Haggerty with a game-high 27 points. He finished 8-of-15 from the floor and 10-of-11 from the stripe.

Senior forward Dain Dainja recorded another double-double, grabbing 11 rebounds, seven of them being offensive, and recorded 12 points. Senior guard Tyrese Hunter chipped in 11 points while also adding three rebounds and three assists.

The first half was a struggle for the Tigers, going into the break trailing 30-21 – their fewest points scored in any half this season.

Memphis, the second-best three-point shooting team in the country entering the night, connected on just 2-of-14 from long distance and shot 28.6 percent overall as a team in the first 20 minutes. The Cavaliers took advantage of Memphis' struggles, forcing seven turnovers and scoring 14 points off those miscues.

The second half was a different story.

After six-straight points from Haggerty to open the half, Memphis reeled off a 26-9 run midway through the period to turn a nine-point halftime deficit into a 47-39 lead with 10:45 remaining.

The Cavaliers cut it to one possession before PJ Carter and Hunter nailed back-to-back triples and Moussa Cisse slammed home a putback to stretch the advantage out to a game-high nine points.

A three-pointer from Haggerty and four free throws in the final 30 seconds sealed the win for the Tigers.

Virginia was led by 15 points from Elijah Saunders and 14 points from Taine Murray.

Memphis held the Hoos to 39.6 percent shooting (21-of-53) and outscored UVA in the second half, 43-32.

POSTGAME NOTES

Memphis used the starting lineup of PJ Haggerty, Tyrese Hunter, Colby Rogers, Nicholas Jourdain and Moussa Cisse for the eighth time this season.
- The Tigers are 6-2 on the year with this lineup.
The win moved Memphis to 6-0 against AAC opponents in seven years under Hardaway, including 2-0 over Virginia.
- Coach Hardaway also improved to 18-3 against Power Four opponents since Dec. 14, 2021.
Memphis finished just 5-of-23 from long range, it's the fewest makes of the season.
The Tigers dished out 11 assists and forced the Cavaliers into 11 miscues.
- Memphis scored 13 points off those UVA turnovers.
PJ Haggerty recorded his eighth game of 20 or more points this season and scored 21 of his 27 points after halftime.
- He also totaled his fifth contest in 11 games with double-digit free throw makes (10-11).
- The sophomore guard added a game-high five dimes.
Dain Dainja pulled down his second double-double of the season, both coming in the last three games.
- He now has three games with 10-plus boards and has scored in double figures for the sixth time in eight games.
Tyrese Hunter finished with 12 points, his eighth game of the year in double figures.
- He shot just 2-of-8 from beyond the arc but has a team-high 34 made triples on the season.
Colby Rogers extended his streak to 19-straight games with a made three.
PJ Carter played nine minutes off the bench and contributed with a pair of three-pointers on three attempts.
Moussa Cisse fouled out after just 16 minutes, but finished with eight rebounds, two points and two blocks.

UP NEXT
The No. 21/22 Tigers return home for two huge games sandwiched around Christmas. Memphis will host No. RV/25 Mississippi State at 11:30 a.m. Saturday (Dec. 21) on CBS for the Holiday Game.

The Tigers will then welcome No. 17/16 Ole Miss at 1 p.m. on Dec. 28 in a matchup on ESPN2. Fans can purchase tickets to either game HERE.

HOW TO FOLLOW THE TIGERS
For complete information on Memphis Tiger Men's Basketball, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.