PJ Haggerty finishes strong for No. 16 Memphis in 78-77 win over Tulane in AAC tourney semis

Advertisement

Advertise with us

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — PJ Haggerty made eight free throws and forced a huge turnover in the final minute as 16th-ranked Memphis beat Tulane 78-77 on Saturday to advance to the American Athletic Conference Tournament championship game.

Read this article for free:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Monthly Digital Subscription

$1 per week for 24 weeks*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles

*Billed as $4.00 plus GST every four weeks. After 24 weeks, price increases to the regular rate of $19.00 plus GST every four weeks. Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

Monthly Digital Subscription

$4.75/week*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles

*Billed as $19 plus GST every four weeks. Cancel any time.

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Add Winnipeg Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only

$1 for the first 4 weeks*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles
Start now

No thanks

*$1 will be added to your next bill. After your 4 weeks access is complete your rate will increase by $0.00 a X percent off the regular rate.

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 15/03/2025 (193 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — PJ Haggerty made eight free throws and forced a huge turnover in the final minute as 16th-ranked Memphis beat Tulane 78-77 on Saturday to advance to the American Athletic Conference Tournament championship game.

Haggerty, the AAC player of the year, put the Tigers (28-5) ahead to stay with two free throws that made it 72-71 with 40 seconds left. He finished with 18 points, going 14 for 14 at the line and 2 of 13 from the field a day after his 42 points matched an AAC tourney record.

Dain Dainja had 23 points and 11 rebounds for Memphis, and Moussa Cisse had 10 points and 11 boards.

Memphis forward Dain Dainja (42) prepares to dunk during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Tulane in the semifinals of the American Athletic Conference tournament, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Fort Worth, Texas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)
Memphis forward Dain Dainja (42) prepares to dunk during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Tulane in the semifinals of the American Athletic Conference tournament, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Fort Worth, Texas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)

Rowan Brumbaugh had 22 points for Tulane (19-14), which had five players score in double figures.

After Haggerty’s go-ahead free throws, Brumbaugh drove for a layup that was pinned against the backboard by Cisse. Referees initially ruled it was interference and counted the basket, but changed the call after a long review.

Tulane kept possession with 26 seconds left, but Haggerty then poked the ball away from Brumbaugh, diving over him to grab the ball and call timeout. Haggerty made six free throws after that.

Brumbaugh swished a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Kam Williams had 16 points for Tulane, and Asher Woods finished with 15.

Takeaways

Tulane: The Green Wave dropped to 0-4 in AAC semifinal games.

Memphis: The Tigers played the final 15 minutes without key defender Tyrese Hunter, who ended the game sitting on the bench with his left foot in a boot. … Memphis, regular-season champs for the first time, earned its only AAC tournament title in 2023.

Key moment

Haggerty made a big play when he got the ball back after the lengthy review that took away the basket that would have given Tulane the lead.

Memphis guard PJ Haggerty, top, and Tulane guard Rowan Brumbaugh, bottom, attempt to recover a loose ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the American Athletic Conference tournament, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Fort Worth, Texas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)
Memphis guard PJ Haggerty, top, and Tulane guard Rowan Brumbaugh, bottom, attempt to recover a loose ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the American Athletic Conference tournament, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Fort Worth, Texas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)

Key stat

The game was close because Memphis players other than Haggerty were 9 of 24 on free throws. Dainja was 3 of 13.

Up next

Memphis plays UAB on Sunday for the AAC Tournament title in one of the last games before the release of the NCAA Tournament field. The Tigers will be in the 68-team field with or without the league’s automatic bid.

___

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 all season. Sign up here. AP college basketball:  https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll  and  https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

Report Error Submit a Tip

Uncategorized

LOAD MORE