MEMPHIS, Tenn. — PJ Haggerty played a crucial role in securing a 74-70 win for No. 19 Memphis against East Carolina on Saturday, scoring eight of his total 25 points in the last 2:34 of the game.
Haggerty shot 7 for 16 from the floor and was flawless from the free-throw line, making all 10 attempts, including vital ones in the closing seconds that helped seal the victory.
Tyrese Hunter contributed 14 points, while Dain Dainja added 10 points as Memphis improved to 13-3 overall and 3-0 in the American Athletic Conference, marking their fourth consecutive victory.
East Carolina’s C.J. Walker was a standout, scoring 23 points and making nine of those in the crucial moments of the game. RJ Felton also had a strong performance, netting 20 points and grabbing 13 rebounds.
Memphis initially looked dominant in the first half after going on a 16-0 scoring spree, but East Carolina (9-8, 1-3) mounted a comeback in the second half, managing to tie the game but never taking the lead.
Observations from the game reveal that East Carolina made a strong push to even the score in the dying moments. However, they have yet to win a game on the road against ranked teams, now standing at 0-57 in such scenarios.
Memphis, despite having double-digit advantages in both halves, struggled to maintain their lead as East Carolina leveled the score late in the game. Nevertheless, Memphis managed to emerge victorious.
A defining moment came when the game was tied at 68 after Walker completed a three-point play. Haggerty responded with a pair of free throws, and a critical drive by Hunter put Memphis ahead for good.
In terms of shooting, the statistics were closely matched, with both teams struggling from beyond the arc. East Carolina made only 25% (5 for 20) of their three-point attempts while Memphis fared slightly better at 26% (6 for 23).
Looking ahead, East Carolina is set to host North Texas on Tuesday night, while Memphis will travel to face Temple on Thursday night.