Memphis basketball is the outright 2025 American Athletic Conference (AAC) regular-season champion.
The Tigers (26-5, 16-2 AAC) secured the crown by defeating South Florida 84-68 in Friday’s night’s regular-season finale at FedExForum. Memphis already clinched a share of title Tuesday at UTSA, but a loss to USF could’ve forced Memphis to share the championship with North Texas if the Mean Green beat Tulsa on Sunday. Penny Hardaway’s club begins AAC Tournament play as the No. 1 seed next Friday (noon, ESPN2 and ESPN+) inside Dickies Arena (Fort Worth, Texas).
Memphis shot 53% overall and 43% on 3-pointers. It also outrebounded USF 43-30 while recording 21 assists, 11 offensive boards, 11 forced turnovers, 7 steals and 4 blocks. The Tigers led for 21 minutes and 19 seconds.
Ben Fletcher’s team (13-18, 6-12 AAC) shot 43% on field goals and 29% from beyond the arc. It also compiled 14 forced turnovers, 13 assists, 11 steals, 8 offensive rebounds and a block. Jimmie Williams (20) and CJ Brown (11) scored double-digit points for the Bulls.
Here are some takeaways from No. 16 Memphis’ fifth consecutive victory.
Turnovers upend Tigers again
Memphis committed a season-high 22 turnovers at UTSA, and its ball security wasn’t much better against USF.
The Bulls scored 14 points off 10 Memphis turnovers in the first half. The Tigers committed 7 giveaways in the first 12 minutes alone. Dain Dainja logged 4 first-half turnovers, while PJ Haggerty and Tyrese Hunter each gave the ball away twice in the opening period. Memphis was a combined -13 with their three best scorers on the floor before halftime.
Both teams had 35 points apiece at intermission.
Moussa Cisse stifles USF on Senior Day
Cisse, Hunter, Dainja, Colby Rogers and Nick Jourdain, who all have no more eligibility beyond this season, were honored during Memphis’ Senior Day festivities pregame. The 6-foot-11 center made the most of his final appearance at FedExForum—much to USF’s chagrin.
He first rejected Williams at the rim just over seven minutes into the game. Nine minutes later, he swatted Kobe Knox’s layup away. He then blocked Brandon Stroud’s jumper with 23 seconds left until halftime, giving him 3 blocks in the first half alone.
Cisse, who also played his freshman season at Memphis, finished the game with 6 points, 8 rebounds and 4 blocks.
Memphis’ stars shine in second half
Haggerty, Dainja and Hunter cleaned up their acts after halftime—combining for just 2 turnovers—and the Tigers subsequently ran away from USF.
Hunter started the second half with back-to-back 3-pointers, which began a 9-1 Memphis run in the first two minutes of the period. Haggerty and Dainja soon joined the fun, as the trio combined for 37 second-half points. Memphis shot 56% from the field 6-for-15 (40%) at the 3-point line whilst outscoring the Bulls 49-33 in the last 20 minutes.
Haggerty totaled 20 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists and a steal on 50% shooting. Dainja tallied 20 points, 6 rebounds and a steal on a 10-for-13 clip. Hunter had 16 points, 7 assists and 3 steals on 50% shooting. The three were a combined plus-50 in the second half.