RECAP: Memphis upsets No. 2 UConn in Maui Invitational opener

Memphis basketball just might be for real.

The Tigers (5-0) upset No. 2 UConn 99-97 in overtime to open the 2024 Maui Invitational inside the Lahaina Civic Center. This is Memphis’ first Associated Press (AP) top-2 win since defeating No. 1 Houston in the 2023 American Athletic Conference (AAC) championship. It’s also the Tigers’ fourth top-100 KenPom victory of the season.

Penny Hardaway’s club takes on the winner of Michigan State-Colorado tomorrow afternoon (5 p.m., ESPN), and then concludes the tournament against North Carolina, Auburn, Iowa State or Dayton on Wednesday.

Memphis shot 55% from both the field and from 3-point range. The Tigers also hit 29 of 40 free throw attempts while racking up 13 assists, 10 forced turnovers, 9 offensive rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks. They led for 28 minutes and 31 seconds in game that featured 7 lead changes and 14 ties.

Dan Hurley’s team (4-1) shot 49% overall and 47% on 3-pointers. It also outrebounded Memphis 33-30 while recording 50 bench points, 22 assists and 14 offensive boards. The Huskies finished with 13 forced turnovers, including 3 blocks and steals respectively.

Here are some takeaways from Memphis’ huge victory.

Memphis causes early foul trouble for UConn

The Tigers’ made their physical intensity evident from the opening tip.

Memphis drew 8 fouls in the first eight minutes and 16 seconds, and earned double-bonus status at the 5:39 mark in the first half. It also attempted 14 free throws compared to 3 for UConn during the opening period.

Huskies starters Solo Ball, Liam McNeeley and Samson Johnson were all limited to five, eight and three first-half minutes respectively after committing two personal fouls each.

PJ Haggerty led the Tigers with 10 points on 6-for-8 free throw shooting at halftime. Memphis ended the first half shooting 56.5% overall and 50% on 3-pointers. Tyrese Hunter went to the locker room with 9 points and a 3-of-5 clip from beyond the arc.

Reserves keep UConn alive

UConn’s starting lineup littered itself with early foul trouble, but two of its reserves picked up the slack.

Michigan transfer Tarris Reed Jr. and sophomore forward Jaylin Stewart scored 15 and 14 first-half points respectively, accounting for all 29 of the Huskies’ bench points during the period. Stewart shot 6-for-7 from the field and 2-of-2 from 3-point range. Reed concluded the period with 7 rebounds (5 offensive) and 2 blocks.

Memphis and UConn entered halftime tied at 40 apiece.

Hunter explodes in the second half

The Texas transfer grew tired of UConn hanging around, so he took matters into his own hands.

Hunter scored 17 points on 4-for-5 perimeter shooting in the first 12 minutes of the second half, catapulting Memphis to a 68-58 lead with 8:17 left in regulation after a deep 3-pointer. The Huskies called timeout a few seconds later, and Hunter knew they were officially on the ropes.

“I’m him! I’ve been him,” he roared as he migrated to the bench.

Hunter finished with a game-high 26 points on 70% 3-point shooting.

UConn forces overtime, but Memphis perseveres

Memphis controlled most of the second half, and cruised to a 79-67 lead with 3:18 on the clock. But UConn wasn’t ready to die just yet.

McNeeley drilled back-to-back 3-pointers to cut the deficit to 4 points at the 1:55 mark. The Tigers then took a huge blow after Haggerty, who finished with 22 points and 5 assists, fouled out with 24 seconds left.

Memphis—after UConn made the score 82-79—initially didn’t fare well without its lead guard, turning the ball over at halfcourt with 14 ticks remaining. Ball then sent things to overtime with a game-tying 3-pointer in Hunter’s face.

Memphis looked sluggish to begin the extra period too. And the Huskies claimed a 90-86 advantage with two minutes to go after double-technical fouls on Johnson and Dain Dainja cost the Tigers a chance to move back in front. It originally only went against Johnson after he pushed Moussa Cisse near Memphis’ bench, but Dainja inadvertently committed his own foul whilst defending his teammate.

Huge 3-pointers from Colby Rogers and PJ Carter helped re-knot the score at the 1:07 mark, though. McNeeley then committed a costly over-the-back foul while battling with Carter for an offensive rebound. Hurley—heavily disagreeing with the call—added onto that with some expletives towards the officials.

Carter sank all 4 free throws to give Memphis a 96-92 lead with 40 seconds left, and the Huskies never closed the gap again.

Five total players fouled out in the game—Ball, Johnson and Reed for UConn, Haggerty and Nick Jourdain for Memphis. Rogers and Dainja scored 19 and 14 points respectively for the Tigers. Reed notched a double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds, while Alex Karaban 19 points and 6 assists for the Huskies. Carter scored all 9 of his points in overtime.