Memphis Triumphs Over UAB in High-Scoring Affair
Memphis secured a decisive 100-77 win against UAB on Sunday, highlighted by an impressive performance from PJ Haggerty, who scored 23 points. Dain Dainja contributed significantly as well, posting a season-high of 21 points along with eight rebounds. The Tigers showcased a remarkable shooting performance, finishing the game with an impressive 62% from the field.
Dainja showcased his scoring ability, hitting 10 of his 12 attempts before fouling out, helping Memphis improve to a record of 16-4 and 6-1 in the American Athletic Conference. This victory marks their third consecutive win and their seventh triumph in the last eight games played.
On the opposing side, the Blazers were led by Efrem Johnson, who scored 21 points. Bradley Ezewiro followed closely with 19 points, while Yaxel Lendeborg rounded out the trio of double-digit scorers with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
The matchup was significant as both teams were among the top three in the American standings, aligning with preseason predictions where UAB was favored to clinch the conference title, with Memphis positioned in second place.
Memphis employed an effective inside-out scoring strategy to establish a 52-39 lead at halftime. Dainja was instrumental in this effort, scoring 16 points in the first half, while Haggerty added 13, and Johnson kept UAB engaged with 17 points, including five successful three-pointers out of seven attempts.
Despite their typical strong ball-handling, UAB struggled with 16 turnovers that allowed Memphis to capitalize, resulting in 32 points. Meanwhile, Memphis minimized their mistakes with only 13 turnovers and executed their offense efficiently, particularly through Dainja, who recently moved into the starting lineup.
A critical moment came as Memphis, already leading by double digits at halftime, began the second half with a 12-6 scoring run, managing to hit five consecutive shots. The first half advantage was largely built through dominance in the paint, where Memphis outscored UAB 34-10, ultimately finishing with a 54-30 lead in that category.
Looking ahead, UAB is set to take on Tulsa on Wednesday, while Memphis will face Tulane on Thursday.
