The No. 17 Memphis Tigers (19-4, 9-1 AAC) continued their dominant stretch in conference play, securing their sixth consecutive victory with an 83-71 win over Tulsa at FedEx Forum on Wednesday night. The Tigers maintained their position at the top of the AAC standings while showcasing improved ball control and defensive intensity in the second half.
The storyline entering this game was centered around PJ Haggerty, who faced his former team for the first time since transferring to Memphis last offseason. Haggerty put together another standout performance, leading the Tigers with 23 points on 10-of-16 shooting while adding three assists and three rebounds.
A Tight Start Before Memphis Took Control
Early on, the game mirrored the slow starts that have plagued Memphis in previous AAC matchups. Tulsa kept things competitive, exchanging leads and keeping the Tigers from finding an offensive rhythm. The first half featured multiple lead changes, with neither team able to establish full control. At one point, Memphis led just 18-15, struggling to create separation from an undermanned but determined Tulsa squad.
One of the early turning points came when Nicholas Jourdain struggled on both ends of the floor. After an air-balled three-pointer and a defensive lapse that led to an easy Tulsa basket, Penny Hardaway quickly pulled him from the game. Jourdain played only 19 minutes, while Moussa Cissé absorbed most of his minutes in the frontcourt.
By halftime, Memphis had built a 39-34 lead, but the game still felt very much within reach for Tulsa.
Memphis Turns It Up in the Second Half
As they have in recent games, Memphis made critical adjustments coming out of the break, turning up the defensive intensity and capitalizing on Tulsa’s mistakes.
Midway through the second half, Tulsa cut the lead to just three points (46-43) following a layup by Keaston Willis. But that’s when Memphis responded with its most crucial stretch of the night.
The Tigers cranked up their press defense, forcing a string of turnovers that led to nine straight points coming from beyond the arc. Tyrese Hunter knocked down two three-pointers during this surge, and PJ Carter added another, helping Memphis push the lead to double digits.
Tulsa, which had remained competitive for much of the game, never recovered from this run. Memphis outscored Tulsa 44-37 in the second half, closing the game with a more structured offensive approach and improved ball movement.
Key Performances
- PJ Haggerty (vs. former team): 23 points (10-of-16 FG), 3 assists, 3 rebounds
- Dain Dainja: 21 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 blocks, 3 steals
- Tyrese Hunter: 11 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 three-pointers
- Colby Rogers: 8 points, 2 assists, 1 rebound
- Moussa Cissé: 6 points, 2 rebounds, 1 block (came off the bench after Jourdain’s early struggles)
Dainja continues to thrive as a starter, providing a strong inside presence with 21 points and six rebounds while contributing four blocks and three steals. His ability to dominate the paint has been a major factor in Memphis’ success.
Haggerty’s efficient scoring night against his former team was another major storyline, as he continues to prove himself as one of the most dynamic scorers in the AAC.
Despite early shooting struggles, Memphis finished the night at 42.9% from three (9-of-21), significantly improving from some of their previous matchups.
Defense & Turnovers Prove to Be the Difference
Memphis’ defense was the biggest separator in this game. The Tigers forced 16 Tulsa turnovers, leading to easy transition points. Meanwhile, they committed just eight turnovers, one of their lowest totals of the season.
This ball control and defensive pressure level has been a major improvement from last year’s team, where Memphis often struggled to put away inferior AAC opponents. Unlike last season’s inconsistency, Hardaway’s squad is now closing out games with authority.
Memphis also dominated the perimeter, limiting Tulsa to just 4-of-18 from three-point range (22.2%).
Cissé’s Scare & Injury Update
A brief moment of concern came when Moussa Cissé suffered a scary fall, immediately grabbing his knee in discomfort. He was helped off the floor but did not return to the locker room. Instead, he stayed near the bench, riding the stationary bike and stretching before eventually re-entering the game in the final two minutes.
His return was an encouraging sign, as losing Cissé for any stretch would put significant pressure on Memphis’ frontcourt, which lacks depth beyond Dainja and Jourdain.
What’s Next? A Critical Rematch with Temple
With the win, Memphis improves to 19-4 overall and 9-1 in AAC play, maintaining sole possession of first place in the conference after North Texas suffered a setback over the weekend.
Next, the Tigers prepare for a rematch with Temple on Sunday at FedEx Forum. Temple handed Memphis their only conference loss of the season, and Jamal Mashburn Jr. torched the Tigers in that game. Expect this to be a revenge game for Penny Hardaway’s squad as they look to continue their push for an AAC regular-season title and a high NCAA Tournament seed.
Final Thoughts
This was another step in the right direction for Memphis, as they handled business against an inferior AAC opponent—something they failed to do consistently last season.
With the Tigers now riding a six-game winning streak, their defense, depth, and overall execution will be tested in the coming weeks. But for now, Memphis remains in full control of their conference destiny.
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