Memphis Men’s Basketball Triumphs Over UNLV

News Summary

The Memphis men’s basketball team secured a thrilling 80-74 victory against UNLV at the Thomas & Mack Center, improving their season record to 2-0. P.J. Haggerty led Memphis with 29 points while Tyrese Hunter and Moussa Cisse contributed 14 points each. Despite a strong start by UNLV, Memphis’ impressive shooting in the second half, coupled with a decisive run in the final quarter, ultimately sealed the win. The game underscored the contrasting aspirations of both teams in the early season.

Las Vegas – The Memphis men’s basketball team achieved a thrilling 80-74 victory over UNLV at the Thomas & Mack Center on Saturday, improving their season record to 2-0. This hard-fought win follows their previous comeback against Missouri, where they overcame a 14-point deficit to secure an 83-75 victory.

UNLV, entering the game with a strong start to their season at 1-0 after defeating Alabama State 93-79, found themselves in a competitive matchup that tested both teams. The Runnin’ Rebels had previously showcased their offensive skills, with four players scoring in double figures against Alabama State, highlighted by Julian Rishwain’s impressive four 3-pointers.

In the Saturday game, the standout performance came from Memphis, with PJ Haggerty leading the charge by scoring 29 points. His scoring was supported by Tyrese Hunter and Moussa Cisse, each contributing 14 points to the team’s total. Despite their efforts, UNLV’s Dedan Thomas Jr. also made a significant impact, netting 22 points but notably did not record any assists, marking the first such occurrence in his career.

The game saw a competitive progression, especially in the second half, where Memphis outperformed UNLV by shooting over 70% from the field. In the final quarter, Memphis managed to score 24 points on their last 12 possessions, showcasing their offensive firepower when it mattered most. Although UNLV maintained the lead for a portion of the second half, Memphis made a pivotal run that shifted the momentum. A dunk by Dain Dainja with 6:06 remaining helped the Tigers take the lead.

Memphis capped off their decisive run with a notable 7-0 scoring streak, highlighted by a crucial three-point play from Tyrese Hunter that gave them a six-point lead at 75-69 with just 1:12 left on the clock. In contrast, UNLV struggled to find their rhythm towards the end of the game, shooting just 3-for-13 in the final minutes and making only one of their last five shots.

UNLV’s coach, Kevin Kruger, expressed that the speed of Memphis’s gameplay forced turnovers that ultimately played a significant role in the game’s outcome. Furthermore, Jalen Hill emerged as a strong player for UNLV during the first half, where he scored 10 of his total 14 points before the halftime break.

This matchup was significant as it featured two teams with different aspirations; UNLV is projected to finish fifth in the Mountain West Conference, while Memphis was aiming to build on their promising start to the season. The game started at 5 p.m. CT and was broadcasted on the Mountain West Network, with streaming options available across various platforms.

As both teams continue their season, Memphis will be looking to maintain momentum from their victory, while UNLV aims to regroup and strengthen their performance in upcoming games.

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Additional Resources

• Go Tigers Go
• Wikipedia: Memphis Tigers men’s basketball
• UNLV Rebels
• Google Search: Memphis basketball
• Commercial Appeal
• Encyclopedia Britannica: UNLV