With three games remaining in their 2024-25 regular-season schedule, Memphis held an upstart Rice squad to two points in the final minutes to secure an 84-72 win at the FedExForum on Wednesday, Feb. 26.
A defensive battle from the opening moments, the game was closer than the final score indicated.
“We knew Rice was going to be a tough game. They had losses of six points or less. They have a lot of length, and they are capable. We are thankful to get out of here with a win,” Memphis coach Penny Hardaway said.
Play collapsed inside after both teams shot poorly from deep. The Owls shot 5 of 21 from three-point range (23.8%), outpacing the Tigers, who went 2 of 13 for a lackluster 15.4%.
A fadeaway by RJ Hunter, shot off the glass, broke a 70-70 tie with 2:39 left in the game. It sparked a 10-0 run for the Tigers. As with much of the second half, Memphis continued to attack the basket.
A breakaway layup by Dain Dainja, followed by a pair of Nicholas Jourdain free throws, extended the Tigers’ lead to 80-70 with 52.6 seconds remaining. Two free throws by Caden Powell narrowed the margin to 80-72. Those were the Owls’ final points. Another pair of Jourdain free throws, followed by a layup from Haggerty, sealed the game for Memphis.
“It is so hard to win any game. You must have your team up for every single game. It is hard to do that for every game. These guys have had to be up physically and mentally for 28 games. We can’t falter in any game we play. For these guys to keep bringing it is what makes me proud of them,” Hardaway said.
Memphis’ record stands at 23-5, 13-2 in the American Athletic Conference, where the Tigers are in first place. They hold a 1.5-game lead over North Texas and will clinch the conference title with one more win.
“That would mean a lot to me. I have not touched the tournament. I’m excited for the rest of the season. Right now, the most important thing is to win the regular-season conference championship,” Jourdain said.
Rice falls to 13-16, 4-12.
Dainja led all scorers with 25 points on 11-of-13 shooting. The senior center also grabbed 10 rebounds and had three blocks in a matchup with Powell. Dainja is averaging 13.2 points and 6.7 rebounds. After starting the season off the bench, he was inserted into the lineup by Hardaway after a loss to Temple in mid-January.
Haggerty added 21 points, shooting 7 of 18 from the field, including 7 of 9 from the free-throw line. The Tigers’ leading scorer also had five assists and five rebounds. The sophomore guard averages 21.3 points, sixth-best in NCAA Division I.
Jourdain also came up big for the Tigers, providing a consistent scoring option throughout the game, including in the closing moments. He finished with 19 points and 9 rebounds.
“I just took what the defense gave me. We added a new dynamic to our offense, and it suits my style of play. It leads to a lot of easy, open shots,” Jourdain said.
Powell led the Owls with 19 points on 5-of-8 shooting. The 6-foot-10 forward also hit 9 of 11 from the free-throw line and grabbed a team-high seven rebounds. It was Powell’s dunk that tied the game at 70 with just over two minutes left in the second half.
Junior guard Denver Aglin scored 14 points, and junior forward Andrew Akuchie added 12 points as starters. Kellen Amos scored 11 points off the bench.
The Tigers will travel to Birmingham to face UAB on Sunday, March 2, followed by a matchup at UT San Antonio on Tuesday, March 4. They will wrap up the regular season against South Florida at the FedExForum on Friday, March 7. Tip-off is at 8 p.m.
