HOUSTON — On Sunday, the Memphis Tigers narrowly secured a victory over Rice, finishing with an 86-83 score, thanks in large part to PJ Haggerty’s outstanding performance of 26 points and eight rebounds.
Haggerty was instrumental in the first half, contributing 14 points, which helped the Tigers (18-4, 8-1 in the American Athletic Conference) achieve a 44-39 advantage by halftime. This win marks Memphis’s fifth consecutive victory.
In addition to Haggerty, PJ Carter added 19 points for the Tigers, who showcased impressive shooting percentages, hitting 55% from the floor and converting 11 of 21 attempts from beyond the arc.
For the Owls (11-11, 2-7), Trae Broadnax also contributed significantly with 19 points and six assists. Jacob Dar added 17 points and eight rebounds, while Alem Huseinovic chipped in with 13 points. Unfortunately for Rice, this loss extended their losing streak to seven games.
The Owls managed to shoot at a 45% clip and made 10 of their 25 three-point attempts during the contest.
In a dramatic finish, Rice launched a 10-0 run in the final minute, narrowing the gap to 82-81 courtesy of a three-pointer from Dar with just 10 seconds to spare. However, Carter sealed the Tigers’ victory by making two free throws just four seconds before the final buzzer.
Takeaways from the game highlight a few areas for Memphis: despite their overall success, the Tigers struggled at the line, finishing with a 9 of 15 free-throw shooting performance. This shortcoming became even more pronounced in the closing moments, as Memphis failed to capitalize on two one-and-one opportunities, allowing Rice to make a late push.
As for Rice, the Owls remain in a tough spot, holding a historical record of 9-105 against ranked teams, with just 7-40 results at home. Their last victory against a ranked opponent dates back to January 30, 1999.
A crucial moment of the game occurred when Carter’s late free throws forced Rice into a five-second violation. Broadnax managed to intercept Memphis’ inbound pass; however, before he could attempt a last-minute shot, Colby Rogers thwarted the effort, ensuring the win for the Tigers.
One of the standout statistics for the game was the Tigers outscoring the Owls in the paint, 38-28, underlining their dominance in that area.
Up next on the schedule, Memphis will host Tulsa, while Rice is set to travel to East Carolina for their next game on Wednesday night.
