‘Special’ Haggerty ratings 42, Memphis advances

Mar 14, 2025, 04:19 PM ET

FORT WORTH, Texas– Memphis coach Cent Hardaway was speaking from experience with his message to standout guard PJ Haggerty before the start of the American Athletic Conference Tournament.

“When you’re the man and you’re expected to head out to produce, you have actually got to go out and produce,” Hardaway told the sophomore.Haggerty responded with a career-high 42 points, including 9 in a 12-0 pursue halftime that put the 16th-ranked Tigers ahead to remain in an 83-80 win over bane Wichita State in a quarterfinal game Friday.Haggerty, who was called the AAC’s top player this week after being the league’s freshman of the year last season, was 16-of-25 shooting and made 10 of 11 totally free throws. “Your group wins when you play well,”said Hardaway, the seventh-year coach who as a player

led Memphis to two NCAA Competition appearances before being a four-time NBA All-Star.”That’s the pressure that you have to have on yourself at the end of the day. And he responded exceptionally well. … Viewing it, it simply took me back.” The 42 points were 10 over Haggerty’s previous career high and matched the AAC Competition record set by Louisville’s Russ

Smith in a semifinal win over Houston in 2014. That was only a point shy of the highest-scoring game in league history, 43 by Memphis’Jeremiah Martin versus Tulane in February 2019.” Unique,”said Tigers big man Dain Dainja, who had 18 points.”One of the very best guards in the country. I wasn’t surprised at all.

I understand he can take over games like this. When he starts, we just have to find him.”While the Tigers(27-5 )will certainly remain in the NCAA tournament for the third time in four seasons, their only loss in their last 15 games considering that Jan. 16 was

at Wichita State. And it was a year ago Friday that Shockers distressed them in the second round of the conference tourney.Haggerty had two baskets off turnovers in the go-ahead run, topped with a three-point play when he had a steal near midcourt and drove to make a layup in between 3 protectors while being fouled. That made it 56-45 with 12:33 left.Earlier because run, he made a layup and Memphis got the ball right back when Tyrese Hunter had a take and drove towards the basket. When Hunter missed out on the layup

, Haggerty was there for the rebound and putback.A few minutes after that run ended, Haggerty made an objected to baseline floater high off the glass.”I was simply trying to play my hardest. It’s March,”said Haggerty, who in the overtime

loss at Wichita State on Feb. 16 made only 4 of 18 shots.” I wasn’t shocked due to the fact that I know his abilities.

His capabilities are from God,”Hardaway said.” That’s something you can’t teach, his flair for scoring, his flair for making plays.”