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How Memphis basketball rose to defeat No. 2 UConn in Maui
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How Memphis basketball rose to defeat No. 2 UConn in Maui

MAUI, Hawaii – The Memphis basketball team looked at the two-time defending champion UConn Huskies and held their collective gaze.

Memphis didn’t blink despite a late UConn rally, winning 99-97 in overtime in what may be the biggest win of the Penny Hardaway era. PJ Haggerty, who did not play in overtime after fouling out in the second half, stormed the field to greet his teammates. Moussa Cisse threw up the “M” sign with both hands as a few hundred raucous Tigers fans went wild and serenaded in front of the Lahaina Civic Center, chanting “whoop that trick!” chanted.

Next up for Memphis: Michigan State (which beat Colorado on Monday) on Tuesday (5 p.m., ESPN).

The Tigers faced the No. 2 team in the country in a game that had the feel of a late-stage March Madness game. Memphis led by as many as 13 points with four minutes remaining. But UConn staged a furious rally and trailed 82-79 with 14.2 seconds left.

At that point, the Huskies got a tying three-pointer from Solo Ball (just his second field goal of the game) with 1.2 seconds on the clock.

UConn built a 90-86 lead with just two minutes left in overtime after Ball drilled another 3-pointer. Then PJ Carter came to life. He answered with a 3-pointer that kept the game close.

Then, after Colby Rogers’ 3-pointer tied the game with 1:07 to go, Carter was sent to the free throw line for four straight attempts after an offensive foul on UConn, followed by a technical foul on the Huskies- bank. Carter made all four, breaking the tie and giving Memphis all the momentum needed to get the win.

The first half consisted of 20 minutes of non-stop, wall-to-wall physicality. But the Tigers largely controlled the pace and the scoreboard. Memphis led for 11 minutes, 59 seconds, while the Huskies led by just 3:23. The match remained tied for the remaining 4:38.

The Tigers led by as many as six points in the first half. UConn’s largest lead was five, which came on a three-pointer by Jaylin Stewart at 5:16. Memphis responded with an 8-2 run, sparked by a 3-pointer from Hunter – one of three he made in the first half.

Stewart and Reed Jr. combined to score 29 points in the first half for UConn – all off the bench.

Reach sportswriter Jason Munz at [email protected] or follow him @munzly on X, the social media app formerly known as Twitter.