In Fort Worth, Texas, the Memphis Tigers made a statement in the American Athletic Conference Tournament, powered by a stellar performance from their standout guard, PJ Haggerty. Memphis coach Penny Hardaway, drawing on his extensive experience in the game, offered crucial advice to Haggerty, reminding him of the expectations resting on his shoulders. “When you’re the man and you’re expected to go out and produce, you’ve got to go out and produce,” Hardaway emphasized to the sophomore.
In response, Haggerty delivered an unforgettable performance, dropping a career-high 42 points. His scoring explosion included a pivotal nine points during a decisive 12-0 run that allowed the 16th-ranked Tigers to secure an 83-80 victory against Wichita State in the tournament quarterfinals. Haggerty, this season’s AAC Player of the Year, showed his versatility with an impressive 16-of-25 shooting display and impeccable free-throw accuracy, netting 10 out of 11 attempts.
Hardaway, who guided Memphis to two NCAA Tournament appearances as a player before earning distinction as a four-time NBA All-Star, was full of praise for his star player. “Your team wins when you play well,” shared Hardaway, now in his seventh year as coach. “That’s the pressure you need to invite. He rose to the occasion spectacularly. Watching him play brought back memories.”
Haggerty’s performance not only surpassed his previous career high by ten points, but it also tied the AAC Tournament record for points scored in a game, set by Louisville’s Russ Smith during a semifinal win over Houston in 2014. Additionally, Haggerty’s 42 points were just shy of the highest-scoring game in conference history, which remains 43 points, achieved by Memphis’ Jeremiah Martin against Tulane in 2019.
Teammate Dain Dainja, who added 18 points of his own, lauded Haggerty’s capabilities: “Special. One of the best guards in the country. I wasn’t surprised at all. When he gets going, we just have to find him.”
The Tigers, boasting a formidable record of 27-5, are poised to make their third NCAA tournament appearance in four seasons. Their only defeat in the last 15 games came against Wichita State, which had previously knocked them out of the conference tournament a year earlier.
During the game-changing 12-0 run, Haggerty capitalized on Wichita State mistakes, scoring twice off turnovers. A significant moment came when he executed a three-point play, following a steal at midcourt and a basket made while being fouled by three defenders, putting Memphis ahead 56-45 with a little over 12 minutes remaining.
This determined display continued as Haggerty followed up a missed Tyrese Hunter layup with a putback after grabbing an offensive rebound. Later, he showcased his finesse with a contested high-arcing floater from the baseline.
Reflecting on his extraordinary game, Haggerty shared, “I was just trying to play my hardest. It’s March,” underscoring the importance of this part of the basketball season. His prior struggles in an overtime loss at Wichita State, where he made just 4 of 18 shots, seemed a distant memory.
Coach Hardaway, reflecting on Haggerty’s unique abilities, remarked, “I wasn’t shocked because I know his abilities. His gifts are God-given. That knack for scoring and making plays can’t be taught.”
