Memphis avenged their only conference loss with 88-81 win over the undermanned Temple Owls on Sunday, Feb. 9 at the FedExForum. It is the seventh victory in a row for the #16 Tigers.
The grudge match failed to feature a matchup between the second and third leading scorers in the nation, after Temple’s Jamal Mashburn, Jr. missed a second game in a row with an injured foot. The senior guard scored 21 points in the Owls’ 88-81 upset win on Jan. 16.
Memphis was also down a starter due to Tyrese Hunter’s gimpy knee.
Their absence had no effect on Tiger guard PJ Haggerty’s game, however. Division I’s third leading scorer led all players with 20 points on 8-15 shooting. His seven assists was also a game best.
But the effects of a 100-91 double overtime loss on Thursday against South Florida may have had an impact.
Entering the tunnel at the half with a 35-35 tie, the Owls faded in the second half. Both teams traded baskets early in the period, but a Haggerty jumpshot with 18:17 that tied the game 37-37. It also triggered a quick 7-0 run. After :45 seconds elapsed, the Tigers were up 47-42. They wouldn’t give up a lead again. A Haggerty three-pointer with 4:33 left in the game gave the Tigers their largest lead, 79-64. Memphis iced the game at the free-throw line after the Owls were forced to foul late.
Tigers’ Coach Penny Hardaway found a solution for the lineup challenge with the insertion of Dante Harris.
The former Alcoa High standout added 14 points, hitting 6-8 from the field. Harris is a transfer from the Virginia Cavaliers, where he averaged 2.5 points and 1.4 assists as a redshirt junior.
His previous callup from the bench, Dain Dainja, continues to prove its wisdom. The senior big man scored 18 points and snatched a game-high eight rebounds in 30 minutes of action. Senior forward Nicholas Jordan added 11 points, while backup center Moussa Cisse contributed 10 points and six rebounds off the pine. Dainja replaced Cisse as a starter on Jan. 23.
Memphis hasn’t lost a game since the switch. Their last defeat was an 88-81 upset loss at Temple on Jan. 16.
Dain Dainja scored 18 points and had 8 rebounds. The Tigers entered the game as the only team shooting over 40 percent from three-point range and shot 42 percent for the game. Harris had 14 points in 29 minutes of action.
Freshman guard Aiden Tobiason led Temple with 18 points after going a perfect 4-4 from the field. He also drilled 7-7 from the free throw line. Senior forward Steve Settle III added 17 points and sophomore guard Quante Berry chipped in 16 points. Fellow starter Steve Dezonie contributed 13 points, while Elijah Gray led the Owls bench scoring with 10 points.
Hunter has had problems with the knee all season. Swollen and sore before the contest, there is concern about lingering issues heading into the spring. In the meantime, he will have several days before the next game.
Memphis begins a two-game road trip that begins at South Florida on Thursday, Feb. 13 and concludes at Wichita St. on Sunday, Feb. 16. The Tigers host Florida Atlantic on Sunday, Feb. 23 at the FedExForum. Tipoff is at 1 p.m.
