Even an electric buzzer beater wasn't enough to stop No. 2 UConn from falling prey to the Memphis Tigers, who upset the Huskies 99–97 in a thrilling first-round matchup at the Maui Invitational on Monday. Head coach Dan Hurley's team was expected to easily handle unranked Memphis, but the Tigers clearly had other plans.
Memphis led by double digits for most of regulation, though the Huskies managed to tighten that gap thanks to a big run toward the end of regulation. With just seconds left to play, UConn guard Solo Ball forced overtime with an electric three-pointer, tying the game 82–82. Watch the moment below:
Solo. Ball. pic.twitter.com/ujgqsZ2nCS
— UConn Men's Basketball (@UConnMBB) November 25, 2024
But a crazed Hurley may have been what ultimately sealed the Huskies' fate. With the game tied 92–92 and less than a minute left in OT, Hurley earned a technical foul after screaming at the refs for an over-the-back call against UConn's Liam McNeely. The Tigers' P.J. Carter sunk four free throws as a result—two for the technical and two against McNeely—bringing the score to 96–92. Memphis clinched the win not long after.
Dan Hurley is T'd up with :40 seconds left in Overtime
— Ryan Cassidy (@ryancassidycbb) November 25, 2024
Hurley didn't like the Over-the-Back call on Liam McNeeley pic.twitter.com/ZVnGgdoRvI
It was a hopeful victory for the Tigers, led by senior Tyrese Hunter, with 26 points and two assists, and sophomore P.J. Haggerty, with 22 points and five assists. This is a Memphis team that struggled down the stretch and missed out on the NCAA tournament last year. To take down the Huskies, who had not lost a game since Feb. 20, is a major W. It is also their fifth straight win against an AP-ranked opponent.
Look how much it means to Memphis.
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 25, 2024
The Tigers win an OT classic in Maui against No. 2 UConn ‼️@Memphis_MBB pic.twitter.com/I3zH0GAtwh
The Tigers will play either the Colorado Buffaloes or the Michigan State Spartans in the semi-finals on Tuesday, and UConn will move on to the consolation bracket.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as No. 2 UConn Falls to Memphis Despite Thrilling Buzzer Beater to Force OT.
