In a competitive matchup on Wednesday night, the 17th ranked Memphis Tigers secured an 83-71 victory against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane, maintaining their lead in the American Athletic Conference. PJ Haggerty was a standout performer for Memphis, contributing 23 points and demonstrating efficiency by shooting 62.5% from the field. His teammate, Dain Dainja, also made a significant impact, scoring 21 points while grabbing six rebounds and blocking four shots. Tyrese Hunter added to the offense with 11 points as well. This win marks Memphis’s sixth consecutive victory, as they now hold a record of 19-4 overall and 9-1 in conference play, with their home winning streak extending to ten games in American Athletic competition.

For Tulsa, Tyshawn Archie led the scoring with 17 points; however, the team struggled with turnovers, having lost their last three games and five of their last six. Jared Garcia, Isaiah Barnes, and Dwon Odom contributed 11 points each as well, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Memphis’s strong performance.

Despite facing challenges in the first half due to turnovers, Tulsa remained competitive until the latter part of the game. A pivotal moment occurred when Garcia managed a layup, narrowing Memphis’s lead to 46-43 just before the 15-minute mark of the second half. The Tigers responded by ramping up their defensive pressure, leading to a series of turnovers by Tulsa. This shift allowed Memphis to score nine consecutive points, including three successful three-pointers, two of which were made by Hunter.

A noteworthy statistic from this game was Memphis’s shooting prowess in the second half, where they converted six of their first seven attempts from beyond the arc, helping to extend their lead into double digits.

Looking ahead, Tulsa will prepare to face Florida Atlantic in their next game on Saturday, while Memphis is set to host Temple on Sunday. Both teams will be looking to capitalize on their respective matchups as the season progresses.