No. 16 Memphis Survives UTSA to Clinch AAC Regular Season Championship

Tuesday, March 4

San Antonio, Texas

6:00 PM

University of Memphis

25-5,15-2AAC

UTSA

11-18,5-12AAC

Memphis

UTSA

No. 16 Memphis Survives UTSA to Clinch AAC Regular Season Championship

Mar 04, 2025 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

SAN ANTONIO – The No. 16. Memphis men's basketball team captured its first American Athletic Conference Regular Season Championship after taking down UTSA, 75-70, Tuesday night in San Antonio.

The Tigers earned its first conference crown since 2012-13 after beating every team in The American. They also secured the No. 1 seed in next week's conference tournament in Fort Worth, Texas.

Memphis improved to 25-5 overall and 15-2 in league play, while picking up its 11^th true road win of the season. That's the 2^nd-highest total in program history and the most since winning 14 in 1951-52.

The Tigers were led by senior forward Dain Dainja, with 19 points and eight rebounds. Sophomore guard PJ Haggerty recorded 18 points, six rebounds, and three assists.

Senior forward Nicholas Jourdain followed with 13 points, going 2-for-2 behind the arc while also adding eight rebounds. Senior guard Colby Rogers was also in double figures with 10 points.

The Tigers started the game trailing but sparked a 13-1 run to take the lead. Memphis stayed in control for the rest of the half, only letting UTSA within four points, before knocking down five of the last seven shots to take a 41-36 advantage into the break.

Memphis came out of halftime on fire, using an 8-0 run to extend the lead to 13 points.

Memphis maintained its lead until UTSA started capitalizing off the Tigers' turnovers going on a 6-0 run to cut the deficit to two.

Both teams fell into a scoring drought for nearly three minutes down the stretch, before Haggerty stepped up to the charity stripe and knocked down six free throws in the final 10 seconds to seal the AAC crown.

UTSA (11-18, 5-12) had four players in double figures, led by 18 points and seven rebounds from Jonnivius Smith.

POSTGAME NOTES

Memphis used the starting lineup of PJ Haggerty, Tyrese Hunter, Colby Rogers, Nicholas Jourdain and Dain Dainja for the 13th time this season.
- They are 12-1 on the year with that group.
The Tigers moved to 13-3 this season on courts away from home, including 11-2 in true road games.
- The 11 road wins are the 2^nd-most in a season in program history. The1951-52 team had 14.
Memphis improved to 3-0 all-time against UTSA.
Memphis dominated the boards, 45-25, against a team that ranked 11th in the country in rebounding (40.4).
- It's the sixth-straight game the Tigers have pulled down 40 or more boards, and the fourth time they've held a team to 25 or fewer.
  - The Tigers outscored the Roadrunners, 32-24, in the paint.
The Tigers had 12 assists and a season-high 22 turnovers.
- UTSA outscored them 19-16 off turnovers.
Dain Dainja just missed his fourth-straight double-double with 18 points, eight rebounds.
- The big man was 8-of-12 from the floor and has now scored at least 16 points in nine of the last 11 games.
  - Dainja is averaging 20.5 points, 11.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks over the last four games.
PJ Haggerty finished with 18 points, six rebounds and three dimes.
- It's his 29^th game of the year in double figures.
  - He was clutch at the free throw line, matching his season high with a 12-of-13 night.
Nicholas Jourdain continued his recent surge with 13 points, eight rebounds, two assists and two blocks in 33 minutes.
- He's third on the team in the last three games averaging 13.7 points, 7.3 rebounds while leading the Tigers with a 72.7-percent mark.
  - He and Dainja led the team with four offensive rebounds.
Colby Rogers was in double figures for the third time in four games with 10 points.
- He and Jourdain led the team with two triples each.
Tyrese Hunter finished with eight points and six boards, while Moussa Cisse hauled in seven boards.
- Five players finished with six or more rebounds.

UP NEXT
The Tigers will close out the regular season at home Friday night at 8 p.m. on senior night. A win will secure the AAC regular season title outright for Memphis.

HOW TO FOLLOW THE TIGERS
For complete information on Memphis Tiger Men's Basketball, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.