In a early season shocker, the unheralded Memphis Tigers stunned the college basketball world with a 99-97 overtime upset of the No. 2 ranked UConn Huskies in the opening round of the Maui Invitational. Memphis guard Tyrese Hunter was the catalyst, scoring 17 of his game-high 26 points after halftime to spearhead the Tigers’ improbable victory.
A Overtime Instant Classic in Maui
From the opening tip, it was clear this would be no ordinary November non-conference tilt. The two-time defending national champion Huskies came out firing, but Memphis met their intensity possession for possession. The game saw 15 ties and 22 lead changes as the teams battled into overtime.
In the extra session, UConn appeared poised to survive the upset bid, taking a 4-point lead with under 2 minutes to play. But the Tigers showed their resilience, responding with back-to-back three pointers by Johnathan Lawson and Tyrese Hunter to retake the lead.
The dagger came in the final minute. With the shot clock winding down and Memphis clinging to a 1-point lead, Hunter rose up from well beyond the arc and unleashed a high arcing three that hit nothing but net, sending the partisan crowd into a frenzy. UConn had a chance to tie in the waning seconds, but Tristen Newton’s contested corner three rimmed out at the buzzer.
Memphis’ Unexpected Heroes Step Up
While Hunter’s late game heroics grabbed the headlines, it was a true team effort that propelled Memphis to the massive upset. Fellow guard Kendric Davis added 21 points and 6 assists, while big man Malcolm Dandridge battled UConn’s vaunted front line on his way to 14 points, 9 rebounds and 4 blocks.
“This is what we came here to do – compete with the best and show what Memphis basketball is all about. We’ve got a special group that plays hard and plays together. I couldn’t be more proud of our fight tonight.”
– Memphis head coach Penny Hardaway
For Memphis, the win serves notice that Hardaway’s talented but unproven squad will be a force to be reckoned with. After missing the NCAA Tournament last season, this signature victory establishes the Tigers as a potential contender in the AAC and beyond.
UConn Faces Adversity After Rare Loss
On the other side, it was a humbling loss for Dan Hurley’s Huskies. The defeat snapped a 17-game winning streak dating back to last February and exposed some potential cracks in the armor of a UConn team facing sky high expectations.
- The Huskies led the nation in FG% defense last season, but allowed Memphis to shoot a scorching 54.7% from the field and 54.5% from three
- UConn was undone by foul trouble, with three players (Clingan, Hawkins, Sanogo) all disqualified. The Tigers took full advantage, sinking 29 of 40 free throw attempts.
- Hurley was assessed a crucial technical foul in OT that led to 4 straight Memphis points, highlighting how the fiery coach’s intensity can sometimes backfire.
All is not lost for the Huskies – November upsets are part of the fabric of college hoops and UConn remains uber-talented with ample time to shore up its weaknesses. But for a program with national title aspirations, this is an early wake-up call that the road back to the top will be far from easy.
A November Game to Remember in Maui
When the Maui Invitational bracket was revealed, few circled Memphis-UConn as the must-see matchup. But the beauty of early season tournaments lies in their unpredictability. On a magical Maui night, the Tigers and Huskies delivered an overtime epic that won’t soon be forgotten.
TIGERS TAKE DOWN NO. 2 UCONN IN OT‼️ pic.twitter.com/IbYCFuE4mO
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 26, 2024
From the high stakes to the high drama, this showdown had it all. Superstars were born, narratives were rewritten, and one team’s championship dreams took an early hit. But it’s only November, and if this stunner in paradise was any indication, college basketball fans are in for one hell of a ride in 2024-25.
