TAMPA, Fla. — Dain Dainja led the No. 14 Memphis Tigers to an impressive 80-65 victory over South Florida on Thursday night, marking their eighth consecutive win. Dainja’s contributions included 20 points, while P.J. Haggerty added 18 points, and Tyrese Hunter chipped in with 15 points alongside six rebounds.
The Tigers started the game trailing 17-15 midway through the first half but quickly surged ahead with an 8-0 scoring run before heading into halftime with a substantial 42-27 lead. In the second half, Memphis extended their advantage to as many as 24 points.
For the Bulls, Kobe Knox, Jayden Reid, and Brandon Stroud each scored 11 points, with Jamil Reynolds contributing 10 points and eight rebounds. Overall, South Florida struggled offensively, finishing the matchup with just 24% shooting from the field (23 of 60).
Dainja was efficient in his scoring, finishing 9 of 13 from the floor. Memphis showcased their dominance by scoring 18 points off turnovers and establishing a solid 51-34 advantage in rebounds.
In terms of takeaways, Memphis continues to display their supremacy within the American Athletic Conference, paving their way toward a potential No. 1 seed in the upcoming tournament. Conversely, South Florida faced difficulties throughout the game, particularly in terms of their shooting performance.
A pivotal moment occurred when Jimmie Williams drained a three-pointer, narrowing the gap to 30-24 for South Florida. Memphis quickly countered as Moussa Cisse completed a dunk off a precise pass from Haggerty, igniting a 12-0 run.
Memphis significantly outperformed South Florida in second-chance scoring, outscoring them 16-4 in that category, highlighting their effective offensive rebounding.
Looking ahead, the Tigers are set to face Wichita State on Sunday, while South Florida will make the trip to take on UAB on the same day.
