RECAP: No. 21 Memphis wins scrappy battle over North Texas

Memphis basketball got a much bigger fight in its second American Athletic Conference (AAC) game, but it ultimately prevailed in rugged fashion.

The No. 21 Tigers (12-3, 2-0 AAC) defeated North Texas 68-64 inside FedExForum Sunday afternoon. The Mean Green ranked No. 77 in the NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) before tipoff, making this a Quad 3 win for Memphis. But it can easily flip to Quad 2 if UNT gets back into the top 75 by season’s end.

Penny Hardaway’s club next hosts East Carolina on Saturday (1 p.m., ESPN+).

Memphis shot 55% overall and 38% on 3-pointers. It also recorded 16 forced turnovers, 8 steals, 7 assists, 4 offensive rebounds and 3 blocks. The game saw six lead changes and four ties, but the Tigers still remained ahead for more than 24 minutes.

Ross Hodges’ team (10-4, 1-1 AAC) shot 43% from the field and 22% from beyond the arc. It also outrebounded Memphis 30-21 while racking up 15 forced turnovers, 12 offensive rebounds, 11 assists, 7 steals and 3 blocks. Brenen Lorient (18), Moulaye Sissoko (17), Jasper Floyd (11) and Rondel Walker (10) scored double-figure points for the Mean Green.

Here are some takeaways from Memphis’ AAC home opener.

Tigers shake off slow start

North Texas—the nation’s No. 5 scoring defense—stifled Memphis early with 14-7 run and three 3-pointers in the first eight minutes and six seconds.

But the Tigers quickly responded with a 13-2 run over the next three minutes to take a 20-16 lead at the 8:50 mark in the opening period. The Mean Green committed 4 of their 8 first-half turnovers in that span.

Memphis shot 53% overall in the first 20 minutes, but only two of its makes came from beyond the arc. UNT, meanwhile, hit four 3-pointers and never trailed by more than 4 points before halftime.

North Texas also began the second half with another 6-0 run in two minutes and 26 seconds. But Memphis retook control with a 17-5 run over the next five and a half minutes to take a 50-43 lead—its largest advantage of the game.

PJ Haggerty lifts Memphis’ offense

The No. 5 scorer in Division I gave the Tigers a much-needed boost Sunday.

Haggerty—an ever-crafty finisher at the rim—scored 11 of Memphis’ 33 first-half points on 5-for-5 shooting. He also led his team with 3 rebounds and 2 steals while playing all 20 minutes in the opening period. Dain Dainja, Tyrese Hunter and Colby Rogers backed him up with 6 points each before halftime.

Haggerty scored 16 more in the second half, including a deep 3-pointer as the shot clocked expired at 2:12 mark to give the Tigers a 6-point lead. North Texas never trailed by less than 4 points in any of its offensive series afterwards. Haggerty finished with a game-high 27 points on 78% shooting.

Dainja has third straight double-digit outing

The 6-foot-9 center carved up Ole Miss and Florida Atlantic with 16 points respectively, and he didn’t let up against North Texas either.

Dainja totaled 14 points, 3 rebounds and a block on 5-for-6 shooting. Hunter compiled 12 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 assists.

Colby Rogers scored 9 points, and nailed two game-sealing free throws in the final 10 seconds.