Elevate your local knowledge

Sign up for the iNFOnews newsletter today!

Select Region

No. 24 Memphis uses a late 12-0 scoring run to beat Wichita State 61-53

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — PJ Haggerty scored 22 points and Tyrese Hunter added 16 as No. 24 Memphis used a late rally to beat Wichita State 61-53 on Thursday night.

Memphis (15-4, 5-1 American Athletic Conference) broke open the tight game by scoring 12 straight points in the final five minutes. There were 10 lead changes and three ties in the contest.

Harlond Beverly led the Shockers (11-8, 1-5) with 18 points. Corey Washington scored 11 points and Quincy Ballard added 10 points and 10 rebounds for Wichita State. which has lost five of six.

The first half was filled with turnovers and poor shooting. Memphis’ sloppy play led to 14 miscues before the break. Neither team shot better than 40%, and together they shot 5 for 20 from 3-point range.

The Shockers led 27-23 at the break.

No. 24 Memphis uses a late 12-0 scoring run to beat Wichita State 61-53 | iNFOnews.ca
Memphis center Moussa Cisse (32) gets caught between the defense of Wichita State center Quincy Ballard, center, and guard Harlond Beverly (20) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Nikki Boertman)

Takeaways

Wichita State: The Shockers held the lead through much of the first half, showing much better than their conference record.

Memphis: As has been the case in other home games, Memphis got off to a poor start and trailed at the break. It took a late rally for the Tigers to pull out the win.

Key moment

Haggerty had 18 points with 4:54 left when he went to the locker room with an injury, and the Tigers trailing 51-49. Tyrese Hunter connected on a 3-pointer 26 seconds later to give Memphis a 52-51 lead. Memphis went on a 12-0 run, and Hunter had two steals in the outburst.

No. 24 Memphis uses a late 12-0 scoring run to beat Wichita State 61-53 | iNFOnews.ca
Memphis guard PJ Haggerty (4) gets caught between the defense of Wichita State guard AJ McGinnis, left, and center Matej Bosnjak, right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Nikki Boertman)

Key stat

Xavier Bell, Wichita State’s leading scorer averaging 14.8 points, was held scoreless, missing all four of his shots. Four fouls limited his time on the floor.

Up next

Both teams play Sunday. Wichita State is at Tulsa. Memphis hosts UAB.

No. 24 Memphis uses a late 12-0 scoring run to beat Wichita State 61-53 | iNFOnews.ca
Wichita State center Matej Bosnjak (17) defends Memphis guard PJ Haggerty (4) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Nikki Boertman)
No. 24 Memphis uses a late 12-0 scoring run to beat Wichita State 61-53 | iNFOnews.ca
Wichita State forward Ronnie DeGray III (3) defends Memphis guard Colby Rogers (3) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Nikki Boertman)

___

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?

The Associated Press


The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.