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Memphis Basketball Gets Back To Its Winning Ways By Downing Charlotte In AAC Play

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Basketball

The No. 18 University of Memphis men's basketball team dominated in its win over Charlotte, 77-68, Sunday afternoon inside Halton Arena.

The Tigers shot 49.1 percent for the game, led by guard PJ Haggerty, who scored 18 points on 7-for-14 shooting and a 3-for-6 effort behind the stripe.

Senior guard Tyrese Hunter contributed 15 points, while also dishing a game-high five assists. Forward Senior Dain Dainja was very efficient coming off the bench, chipping in 14 points on 6-for-8 shooting.

The Tigers came out roaring to start the game, connecting on their first three shot attempts, two of which were 3-pointers from Rogers and Hunter. After both sides traded buckets through the first six minutes of action, leading to a one-point advantage for Memphis, the Tigers turned up their intensity.

Over the next 10 minutes, Memphis reeled off a 24-5 run that put the Tigers in front 36-16. They connected on five threes and forced seven turnovers from Charlotte in that span.

Memphis took its largest halftime lead of the season into the locker room at 41-26. The Tigers connected on 8-of-12 field goals over the final 8:30 of the half to shoot 58% in the first 20 minutes.

Memphis led for the rest of the game, never letting the 49ers within 11 points until the final minute.

With less than four minutes remaining, Charlotte got some calls and made a late 12-2 run to cut Memphis' 19-point advantage to the 77-68 final score.

Jaehshon Thomas led four 49ers in double figures with 18 points, including a 4-for-8 afternoon from distance.

POSTGAME NOTES

  • Memphis used the starting lineup of PJ Haggerty, Tyrese Hunter, Colby Rogers, Nicholas Jourdain and Moussa Cisse for the 15th time this season.
    • They are now 11-4 on the year with that lineup.
  • The Tigers improved to 8-2 this season on courts away from home, including 5-1 in true road games.
  • Memphis now leads the all-time series to 10-6 after taking its fourth-straight game against the 49ers.
    • It is the first victory in Charlotte for the Tigers since 1996.
  • The Tigers shot 40.0 percent from 3-point range (10-of-25).
    • The 10 made triples are their most since also draining 10 at Florida Atlantic.
  • After getting beat on the boards the last three games, Memphis came out and outrebounded Charlotte, 42-28, matching their largest positive rebounding margin of the season.
    • The 49ers managed only six offensive boards, compared to 10 for Memphis.
  • Four Tigers hauled in six or more rebounds, the first time that has happened this season.
    • Three players finished with eight or more (Dainja, Haggerty, Cisse).
  • Memphis dished 14 assists, but turned the ball over 16 times, resulting in 16 points off turnovers for Charlotte.
  • PJ Haggerty led the team in scoring for the 12th time this season with 18 points.
    • He hauled in eight rebounds, three assists and a team-high three steals in 37 minutes.
  • Tyrese Hunter hit double figures for the 14th time this season behind 15 points in 31 minutes.
    • He dished a game-high five dimes and tied Colby Rogers with a team-high three triples (3-of-7).
  • Dain Dainja has now scored 10-plus points (14) in six-straight outings and in 12 total games this season.
    • Ten of his points came in the second half.
  • The big man was just one rebound shy of his third double-double of the season with nine boards in 23 minutes.
  • He finished 6-of-8 from the floor shooting.
  • Colby Rogers connected on three 3-pointers for nine points.
  • Moussa Cisse grabbed eight rebounds to go along with five points.


UP NEXT
The Tigers return home this next week for a pair of big conference contests. They will host Wichita State at 6 p.m. on Thursday (Jan. 23) and UAB at noon on Sunday (Jan. 26).