No. 24 Tigers Blow Out Blazers, 100-77

Sunday, January 26

Memphis, Tenn.

12:00 PM

University of Memphis

100

UAB

Photo by: Zach Wall

Jan 26, 2025 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

MEMPHIS – The No. 24 University of Memphis men's basketball team made a statement win over UAB, 100-77, Sunday afternoon inside the FedExForum. The Tigers have now outscored the Blazers by a combined 42 points in their last two meetings in Memphis.

The win improved Memphis to 16-4 overall and 6-1 in The American, while UAB drops to 12-8 and 5-2. It brought an end to the Blazers' 5-game win streak.

The Tigers shot a season-high 62.3 percent for the game, led by guard PJ Haggerty, who scored 23 points on 9-for-16 shooting. He just missed a double-double with nine assists, six rebounds and three steals.

Redshirt senior center Dain Dainja had a monster day in his return to the starting lineup, recording 21 points on 10-for-12 shooting while grabbing eight rebounds. Fifth-year guard PJ Carter provided a spark off the bench with a season-high 14 points.

Redshirt senior guard Colby Rogers was hot from behind the arch, going 4-for-6 to give him 12 points overall. Senior forward Nicholas Jourdain chipped in 11 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two blocks.

The game was looked at as a battle of the top two teams in the AAC's preseason poll, but after the first 10 minutes, it was clear Memphis was on a mission.

The Tigers came out of the gates clicking on all cylinders, dominating the board, and going 5-for-5 from the field to go up 18-8. UAB responded with back-to-back three-pointers to cut the deficit to two points.

But from there, Memphis put its foot on the gas, scoring at will inside-and-out to take a 52-39 halftime lead. The Tigers made only 23 field goals on Thursday against Wichita State, but on Sunday, they had 21 in the first half.

The Tigers' momentum continued coming out of the break, going 5-for-5 from the floor, stretching their lead to as many as 24 with 9:29 remaining. The closest UAB got the rest of the half was 13, but with Memphis shooting 70.8 percent in the half (17-24), there was no chance of an upset.

UAB entered the contest as the top-rebounding team in the conference at 41.3 boards per game, but Memphis controlled the glass 37-33. It was the second-fewest rebounds in a game for the Blazers this season and only the fourth time they've been outrebounded overall.

UAB was led by 21 points (5-of-9 from three) from Efrem Johnson and a double-double from AAC preseason player of the year Yaxel Lendeborg – 18 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and three steals.

POSTGAME NOTES

Memphis used the starting lineup of PJ Haggerty, Tyrese Hunter, Colby Rogers, Nicholas Jourdain and Dain Dainja for just the fourth time this season.
- They improved to 4-0 on the year with that lineup.
The Tigers improved to 8-2 at home this season.
Memphis extended is lead in the all-time series to 41-12 and have now won 20 of the last 22 matchups, including 18-straight at home.
Memphis scored a season-high 52 points in the first half, its most in any half this season.
- Sunday was the fifth time this season they've put up at least 50 in any half.
The 100 points scored was also a season high by the Tigers.
Memphis shot a season-high 62.3 percent overall (38-61) and hit 9-of-17 from deep (52.9%).
- It was the highest field goal percentage for the Tigers since shooting 64.7 percent at Wichita State on Jan. 14, 2024.
  - The 38 makes are tied for the second-most in seven seasons under Penny Hardaway.
The Tigers also set season highs in field goals made (38) and field goals attempted (61).
Memphis dished 24 assists and turned the ball over just 13 times (three in the first half).
- It is the most helpers since that same Wichita State game where they had 25.
  - It is the seventh time under Hardaway that they totaled 24 or more assists.
    - UAB had not allowed any opponent to total more than 16 assists entering the game.
The Tigers recorded a season best 54 points in the paint and 32 points off turnovers.
Memphis has outscored UAB 160-103 in the last three halves of basketball played inside FedExForum.
PJ Haggerty recorded a game-high 23 points, nine assists, six rebounds and three steals.
- The nine assists match his career high set in the AAC Championship last season.
  - He etched his 14^th game of the year with 20 or more points. He was 9-of-16 from the floor.
Dain Dainja scored a season high 21 points on 10-of-12 shooting in his first time back in the starting lineup since Nov. 15 against Ohio.
- He finished one point off his career high, but recorded career bests in field goals made and attempted.
  - Dainja scored 16 of his points in the first half. It tied the most he's scored in any half this season and only the second time he's reached double figures in the first half.
    - He tied for the team-high with eight rebounds.
PJ Carter poured in a season-high 14 points in only 13 minutes off the bench. He was 5-of-7 shooting overall and 2-of-4 from deep.
Colby Rogers got back in double figures for the first time in six games with 12 points.
- He knocked down a team-high four 3-pointers and recorded a season high three steals.
Nicholas Jourdain dropped 11 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two blocks in 29 minutes. He finished with a team-best 20 plus-minus.
- His seven rebounds are the most since grabbing eight against Ole Miss.
Moussa Cisse finished with nine points and eight rebounds in 22 minutes off the bench.
Tyrese Hunter put up nine points and four assists in 31 minutes.
Memphis led for 39:11 and never trailed.

UP NEXT
Memphis wraps up the first half of its conference season next week with a pair of road trips. The Tigers will first trek to the Big Easy to face Tulane on Thursday at 8 p.m., before heading to Houston for their first visit to Rice as AAC members on Sunday for a 2 p.m. tip.

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.