photo by Don Mooney
by Don Mooney 2-23-2025
Memphis, TN—Tigers played the first ten-minutes as if they missed pre-game warmups. Halfway through the first half shots began to fall. Defensive intensity stiffened. Did I say shots began to fall? After a slow start the Tigers roared past the Florida Atlantic Owls 84-65 in the afternoon conference contest at FedExForum.
Both teams struggled offensively out of the gate, combining to make just one of the first 11 shots attempted. Florida Atlantic put together a 5-0 run less than five minutes into the action, and eventually grabbed its largest lead of the game at 18-12, before the Tigers started to find a groove.
photo by Don Mooney
After trailing for nearly 16 minutes to open the game, Memphis (22-5, 12-2 American Athletic Conference) broke things open early in the second half with a 12-0 run. The Tigers then put together a 13-0 run a few minutes later to build a 27-point advantage and help secure the victory to get Memphis back on the winning track.
Memphis was led by Dain Dainja’s double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds. PJ Haggerty dropped 22 points and snagged six rebounds.Colby Rogers supplied 15 points with three triples. Memphis reeled off 14-straight points and held the Owls scoreless for more than four minutes en route to taking a 37-32 lead into the halftime break.
Hometown hero Damarien Tates came off the bench in the first half and immediately impacted both ends of the floor. He recorded a steal, a block, two assists, and scored bucket in just five minutes. Memphis continued its momentum into the second half behind the exceptional play from Dainja and Haggerty. The duo combined for 25 points on 12-of-16 shooting in the second half to help the Tigers outscore FAU, 47-33, in the final 20 minutes.
photo by Don Mooney
Florida Atlantic (15-12, 8-6) entered the game having won five of its last six games, powered by the league’s top scoring offense. The Tigers had other plans, however, holding the Owls to 15 points below their season average (80.2) behind a scrappy defensive effort.
Memphis came away with nine steals and eight blocked shots in the win, and limited FAU to just four second-chance points. Memphis ended the game shooting 47.1 percent from the field (33-70) and went 19-of-34 in the second half (.559). The Owls were led by Tre Carroll’s 20 points and seven rebounds.