CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — PJ Haggerty delivered a stunning performance, netting 21 of his total 27 points in the second half, as No. 21 Memphis overcame an early deficit to secure a narrow 64-62 victory over Virginia on Wednesday night.

The Tigers, improving their record to 9-2, were down 30-21 at halftime. They found their rhythm and took their first lead at 39-37, benefiting from a goaltending violation that catalyzed a dominating 26-7 run, allowing them to extend their advantage to 47-39.

In addition to Haggerty, Memphis had notable contributions from Tyrese Hunter and Dain Dainja, both of whom scored 12 points. Dainja also made a significant impact on the boards, grabbing 11 rebounds.

For the Cavaliers, who fell to 6-5 with this loss, Elijah Saunders and Taine Murray were the leading scorers with 15 and 14 points, respectively. This defeat marked Virginia’s first home loss of the season.

Takeaways from the game highlighted Memphis’ increased defensive intensity in the second half, which played a crucial role in their comeback. On the other hand, Virginia struggled against ranked opponents this season, having lost all four matchups against them.

The pivotal moment in the game came when Virginia narrowed the gap to 57-53 with a shot from Isaac McKneely just under three minutes remaining. However, Haggerty quickly countered with a crucial 3-pointer, pushing the lead to 60-53 with 2:27 left on the clock. Despite a lackluster performance from beyond the arc, where the Tigers shot just 5 for 22, that key shot was critical.

A noteworthy statistic from the game was Memphis’s scoring turnaround; they managed only 21 points in the first half but exploded for 26 points in the first 10 minutes of the second half.

Looking ahead, Memphis will return to their home court to take on Mississippi State on Saturday, while Virginia will remain at home to compete against American on Sunday.