In an exhilarating performance, PJ Haggerty achieved a career milestone, scoring 42 points while leading 16th-ranked Memphis to a thrilling 83-80 victory over Wichita State in the quarterfinals of the American Athletic Conference tournament in Fort Worth, Texas. Alighting in a dazzling fashion, the Tigers (27-5) clinched the lead with a spirited 12-0 burst over a brief span of 2 1/2 minutes following halftime. During this run, Haggerty was pivotal, securing nine points. Notably, two of his successful baskets were direct results of turnovers by Wichita State (19-14), whose downfall was significant as they were the team to eliminate the Tigers from last year’s AAC tournament, and were responsible for Memphis’ sole defeat in the last fifteen encounters since January 16.
Haggerty’s contribution, announced earlier this week as the AAC player of the year due to his exceptional previous season, matched the record for a single AAC tournament game with 42 points—falling just one point short of the overall league game record. Dain Dainja also bolstered Memphis’s side by adding 18 points.
On the opposite end, Bijan Cortes made a substantial impact for Wichita State with 19 points, prominently featuring six 3-pointers. Xavier Bell contributed 18 points, while Ronnie Degray III put in a notable performance with 14 points and nine rebounds.
Reflecting on the teams’ trajectories, Wichita State faced their fourth defeat in the past five games following a promising six-game winning streak, which previously saw them triumph over Memphis in an overtime encounter. Rapidly establishing an early lead, Wichita State made four 3-pointers within the first 4 1/2 minutes, advancing to a 20-10 score.
Conversely, Memphis, under Coach Penny Hardaway’s leadership, is set to appear in the NCAA Tournament for the third time in four years, showcasing their persistent excellence. The turning point of the match unraveled as Wichita State shifted from a 35-30 lead into an 11-point deficit. This downturn was aggravated by missing 11 consecutive field goals over the closing 4:32 of the first half, extending to the initial 6:14 following halftime.
Statistically pivotal, Memphis capitalized on 17 Wichita State turnovers, translating into 29 points. They also outpaced the Shockers with a 27-9 margin on fast-break points.
Looking ahead, Memphis is slated to compete in the semifinal round against Tulane, after their 83-76 victory over Florida Atlantic, with hopes of advancing further in the tournament.
