In a Sunday night basketball clash that was tighter than a well-coiled spring, the No. 21 ranked Memphis Tigers managed to eke out a victory over the visiting North Texas Mean Green, 68-64. PJ Haggerty, the conference's leading scorer coming into the game, did not disappoint, putting up a hefty 27 points, a career highlight acknowledged by Action News 5. His performance was strikingly efficient; 11-14 from the field, including a perfect 3-3 from beyond the arc, inevitably helped secure Memphis's win.
The game had no shortage of critical moments, but none more so than when Haggerty launched an implausible shot from approximately 30 feet out. With the shot clock threatening to run stale, he hoisted the ball toward the basket, and it gracefully found its way through the net, expanding Memphis's lead to six points. "With 2:15 remaining and the shot clock running down, Haggerty hoisted a long, arching desperation shot from about 30 feet," reported WREG. This wouldn't just be a marker on the scoreboard but a psychological blow to North Texas, struggling to close the gap.
The Mean Green entered this matchup with high stakes, given the historical context that they hadn't secured a road win over a ranked opponent since February 1971. Despite the loss, they showed considerable resilience, as evidenced by a gritty rebounding performance. North Texas racked up 30 rebounds to Memphis's 21, highlighted by 12 offensive boards—a stat that could have tilted the game in their favor under different circumstances, noted WREG.
This nail-biter was more than a statistical marvel; it carried implications for Memphis's standing in the league. Their win also contributed to a strengthening position in the American Athletic Conference standings, moving them to a 12-3 overall record and a perfect 2-0 in conference play. As acknowledged by The Daily Memphian, avoiding a second 'bad loss' of the season was critical for the Tigers' morale and rankings. Memphis will aim to build on this closely-fought victory when they host East Carolina next Saturday, hoping to put a little more distance between them and the edge of defeat.
