RECAP: No. 16 Memphis overcomes injuries to beat UAB in AAC Tournament championship

FORT WORTH, Texas — Memphis basketball is cutting down nets for the second time in nine games.

The shorthanded Tigers, who were without both starting point guard Tyrese Hunter (foot) and backup Dante Harris (ankle), beat UAB 84-72 in Sunday’s American Athletic Conference (AAC) Tournament championship at Dickies Arena. This gives Memphis its second conference tourney title in three seasons, and likely cements the AAC as a one-bid NCAA Tournament league for the first time in its history. Memphis moves to 2-1 in AAC Tournament title games under head coach Penny Hardaway.

Memphis shot 47% overall and 46% on 3-pointers. It also outrebounded UAB 45-44 while recording 23 points off 15 forced turnovers, 18 offensive boards, 13 assists, 10 steals and 7 blocks. The Tigers had just nine scholarship players available with both Hunter and Harris sidelined.

Andy Kennedy’s team (22-12, 13-5 AAC) shot 35% on field goals and 26% from the 3-point line. It also compiled 21 offensive rebounds, 12 forced turnovers, 10 assists, 5 steals and 4 blocks. Yaxel Lendeborg (19) and Efrem “Butta” Johnson (17) scored double-digit points for the Blazers

Here are some takeaways from No. 16 Memphis’ impressive showing.

Tigers’ first-half offense struggles without Tyrese Hunter

Hunter spent both Sunday and much of Saturday in a walking boot and crutches after injuring his left foot in Memphis’ semifinal matchup with Tulane.

Sophomore guard Baraka Okojie started in Hunter’s place, and drilled a 3-pointer that began a 10-of-18 (55%) start for the Tigers. But Memphis’ fortune quickly turned sideways, as it hit just three of its final 16 field-goal attempts in the first half. UAB, meanwhile, shot 4-for-8 in the last five minutes of the period to take a 35-32 lead into halftime.

Seven different Tigers scored in the first half, but the team committed 8 turnovers before intermission. The Blazers followed suit with 7 giveaways in the first 20 minutes.

Dain Dainja and Yaxel Lendeborg draw even

Dainja dominated the Blazers’ star big man in their two regular-season meetings, but Lendeborg matched the Illinois transfer blow-for-blow this time around.

Both finished Sunday’s game with a double-double. Dainja recorded his eighth of the year with 22 points, 12 rebounds, 4 blocks and 4 assists. Lendeborg logged his 23rd of the season (tied for No. 1 in Division I) with 19 points, 17 boards, 4 assists, a block and a steal. The two shot a combined 50% from the field and took 13 total free throws.

Dainja, however, still got the last laugh.

PJ Haggerty helps Memphis push away in second half

The AAC Player of the Year scored just 6 points on 2-for-9 shooting in the first half, but completely took over in the second.

Haggerty exploded for 17 second-half points, including 8 in the first 6:04 of the period. Memphis shot 56% in the period after finishing the first half at 38.2%. It also held UAB to a porous 28.9% from the field in the last 20 minutes.

Haggerty finished with 23 points (8-for-22 shooting), 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals. Colby Rogers added 15 points (5-for-12 shooting), 3 rebounds and a couple steals.

The Tigers outscored the Blazers 52-37 in the second half.