Memphis Dominates Florida Atlantic 84-65 in Key AAC Showdown

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — No. 22 Memphis cruised to an 84-65 victory over Florida Atlantic on Sunday, showcasing a dominant second-half performance that solidified their lead in the American Athletic Conference.

Dain Dainja and PJ Haggerty each contributed 22 points for Memphis, with Dainja also pulling down 11 rebounds. Colby Rogers added another 15 points, helping the Tigers improve to 22-5 overall and 12-2 in the conference.

“We bounced back well after last week’s overtime loss,” said Dainja. “It was important for us to come into this game focused and ready to play.

Tre Carroll led Florida Atlantic (15-12, 8-6) with 20 points, supported by Kaleb Glenn’s 15 points. Leland Walker chipped in 14 points, but the Owls suffered the disappointment of back-to-back losses after a five-game winning streak.

Early in the contest, Florida Atlantic appeared poised to make a strong showing, but Memphis turned the tide with a 14-0 run late in the first half. After starting the game slowly, the Tigers capitalized on offensive rebounds, closing the half with a lead of 37-32.

The Owls’ struggles continued in the second half, where they shot just 28% from the free-throw line, an area that had previously been one of their strengths. Florida Atlantic entered the contest ranked 71% from the line this season but managed only five successful free throws out of 18 attempts during this game.

Memphis extended their lead significantly with a 12-0 run shortly after halftime, bringing the score to 53-38. Another key moment came midway through the second period when the Tigers unleashed a 13-0 run that effectively sealed the game, pushing their advantage to 76-49 with 6:15 remaining.

The strong rebounding performance, particularly their 16 offensive rebounds leading to 19 second-chance points, was imperative for Memphis’s success. They finished with a 44-33 overall rebounding margin.

“It was a collective effort,” Haggerty said about the team’s rebounding and offensive strategies. “We knew we had to step up and take charge without letting them dictate the game.”

Both teams will return to action on Wednesday, with Florida Atlantic hosting North Texas and Memphis looking to continue their winning momentum against Rice.