The 16th-ranked University of Memphis men's basketball team claimed the outright American Athletic Conference regular season title Friday night, defeating reigning conference champion South Florida, 84-68, in front of 14,916 jubilant fans inside FedExForum.

The win marked the program's first regular season title since taking the C-USA crown in 2012-13.

Memphis (26-5, 16-2 AAC) improved to 3-0 on the season when being tied at the half after heading to the locker room in a 35-35 deadlock. Haggerty, Dainja and Tyrese Hunter combined for 37 second-half points to help the Tigers pull away late and secure the Senior Day win.

Dainja and Hunter were two of five seniors honored pregame, along with Colby Rogers, Nicholas Jourdain and Moussa Cisse. Rogers scored seven points on the night, followed by Cisse's six points and eight rebounds while Jourdain chipped in four points and a team-high nine boards.

The Tigers shot 52.5 percent from the floor and 40 percent from beyond the arc as they knocked down 10 triples on the night. Memphis dominated the glass as the Tigers out-rebounded the Bulls, 43-30, and scored 19 second-chance points to the Bulls' eight.

Haggerty and Dainja each scored a game-high 20 points to lead Memphis offensively, followed by Hunter who chipped in 16 points. Haggerty added eight rebounds and five assists while Dainja pulled down six boards.

South Florida (13-18, 6-12) was led by Jayden Reed's 20 points, while Brandon Stroud grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds.

POSTGAME NOTES

• Memphis used the starting lineup of PJ Haggerty, Tyrese Hunter, Colby Rogers, Nicholas Jourdain and Dain Dainja for the 14th time this season.
  • They are 13-1 on the year with that group.
• The Tigers improved to 13-2 at home this season and have now won 14-consecutive home contests against AAC competition.
• Memphis moved to 34-8 all-time against USF, including 16-4 at home.
• Memphis shot 52.5 percent overall (31-59) in the win, and 40.0 percent from three (10-25).
  • It's the 13th time this season Memphis has shot 50% or better in a game, including in five of the last 10.
    • Memphis improved to 63-3 under Penny Hardaway when shooting 50% in a game, including 41-0 at home.
• The Tigers also knocked down double-digit triples for the eighth time this season.
  • They are now 34-10 under Hardaway when hitting 10+ threes in a game.
• The Tigers moved to 84-11 when scoring 80-plus points in Hardaway's seven seasons, including 53-2 at home.
• Memphis is one of only six teams in the nation as of Friday night to own at least 26 victories this season.
•  Dain Dainja tied for the team high with 20 points to go along with six rebounds in 30 minutes.
  • The big man recorded his sixth 20-point outing of the season, and they all have come in the last 12 games.
    • He finished 10-of-13 from the floor and scored 12 of his points after halftime.
• PJ Haggerty dropped 20 points, eight rebounds and five assists in 33 minutes.
  • It's his 21st game of the year with 20 or more points
    • The sophomore guard led the team at the line, going 8-of-10, and scored 12 of his points in the second half.
• Tyrese Hunter recorded 16 points and a team-high seven assists in 33 minutes.
  • It's his 21st game of the year in double figures and the 16 points are his most since Feb. 16.
    • He was 6-of-12 from the floor and led the team with a 4-of-7 night from long range.
      • Hunter now has eight games this season with four or more 3-pointers after only having four such games for his career before coming to Memphis.
• Nicholas Jourdain finished with four points, a team-high nine rebounds and five assists in 30 minutes.
  • He has pulled down eight or more rebounds in three of the last four games and the nine boards tie his season high.
• Colby Rogers added seven points, while PJ Carter chipped in six.
• Moussa Cisse ended the night with six points, eight rebounds and a game-high four blocks in only 19 minutes off the bench.
  • He has seven or more rebounds in five of the last six games.
• Memphis totaled four blocks and seven steals in the game.
• The Tigers finished with 21 assists to just 14 turnovers.
  • It is their third-most assists of the season.
• There were five ties and seven lead changes in the win. 

UP NEXT
The Tigers head to Fort Worth, Texas, for the AAC Tournament at Dickies Arena next week. The tournament bracket will officially be revealed Sunday evening after the conclusion of all regular season games, but the Tigers know for sure they won't play until the quarterfinals on Friday, March 14 with a noon tipoff against the winner of the No. 8/No. 9 game.