RECAP: Arkansas State upsets No. 16 Memphis

Déjà vu, anyone?

Arkansas State upset No. 16 Memphis 85-72 inside FedExForum Sunday afternoon. The Red Wolves were No. 167 in the NCAA’s NET rankings headed into today’s game, so this counts as a Quad 4 loss for the Tigers. This is Memphis’ first Quad 4 loss since dropping a home game against Rice last season.

Memphis next plays at Clemson next Saturday (10 a.m., ESPN2). It’ll then visit Virginia on Dec. 18 before finishing its non-conference schedule with home games against Mississippi State and No. 23 Ole Miss later this month.

Penny Hardaway’s club (7-2) shot 36% from the field and 32% from 3-point range. It also compiled 17 offensive rebounds, 17 forced turnovers, 9 steals, 9 assists and 3 blocks. The Tigers scored 24 points off turnovers and 21 fastbreak points despite the loss.

Bryan Hodgson’s team (7-3) shot 37% overall and 33% on 3-pointers. It also outrebounded Memphis 44-40 while racking up 20 forced turnovers, 16 offensive boards, 16 assists, 8 steals and 4 blocks. A-State led for 37 minutes and 51 seconds.

Here are some takeaways from Memphis nerve-racking victory.

Memphis goes cold in first half

The Tigers entered Sunday as the nation’s best 3-point shooting team, but Arkansas State’s No. 35 ranked 3-point defense silenced their attack.

Memphis shot 28% from the field and recorded just 7 field goals in the first half. The Red Wolves entered halftime with a 42-29 advantage after leading by as many as 18 points during the opening period. The Tigers’ lone saving grace was 13-of-17 clip from the free throw line.

PJ Haggerty and Dain Dainja scored 22 of Memphis’ first-half points. All other Tigers shot a combined 2-of-13 from the field before intermission. A-State forward Dyondre Dominguez torched Memphis with 14 points on 4-for-4 shooting in the first 20 minutes.

Tigers’ perimeter defense falters again

Memphis allowed its opponents to shoot 37% from 3-point range in its first eight games, and the Red Wolves fully exploited the Tigers’ soft perimeter defense too.

Arkansas State shot 39% from 3-point range in the first half compared to Memphis’ 20% mark. Dominguez hit both of his tries from deep. Guard Joseph Pinion shot 3-of-3 from the perimeter, and lead scorers Taryn Todd and Kobe Julien knocked in one 3-pointer each before halftime.

The Red Wolves hit just 5 long-balls in the second half, but they also held the Tigers to 5 in the process.

No else steps up for Memphis.

Haggerty and Dainja accounted for almost all of the Tigers’ offense.

Haggerty led Memphis with 29 points, 4 steals and 3 rebounds on 8-for-15 shooting. Dainja, a 6-foot-9 center, did his part with 16 points and 11 rebounds (5 offensive) while shooting 4-for-10 from the field. But nobody else stepped up to the Red Wolves’ defense.

Colby Rogers finished with 11 points. Tyrese Hunter scored 4 on 1-for-7 shooting. Nick Jourdain notched 7 and PJ Carter hit a single 3-pointer. A-State drew even with Memphis in the second half.

Joseph Pinion led the Red Wolves with 22 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocks while shooting 7-of-13 from the field. Dominguez finished with 19 points and 6 rebounds on 5-for-7 shooting (3-for-3 on 3-pointers). Todd and Julien scored 17 and 12 points respectively.