Déjà vu. #16 Memphis falls to Sun Belt's Arkansas State 85-72
Loss to Arkansas State raises questions about the Tiger Basketball consistency and focus
The #16 Memphis Tigers suffered a surprising 85-72 loss to Arkansas State on Sunday (12/8) at FedExForum. Despite a standout performance from PJ Haggerty, who scored a game-high 29 points, Memphis struggled to maintain momentum against the Red Wolves. Arkansas State's Joseph Pinion led his team with 22 points, including five three-pointers, while forward Kobe Julien contributed 12 points and eight rebounds. Full coverage live on Monday (12/9) on 92.9 FM ESPN.
The Tigers fell behind early, trailing 42-29 at halftime after a dominant stretch by Arkansas State. Memphis managed to cut the deficit to ten points in the second half thanks to a 10-0 run, but Arkansas State responded with clutch three-point shooting to maintain their lead. Dain Dainja posted a double-double for Memphis with 16 points and 12 rebounds, but the team's 16 turnovers and inconsistent defense proved costly.
This loss dropped Memphis to 7-2 on the season, raising questions about their consistency against non-conference opponents. Arkansas State, meanwhile, showcased a strong, disciplined effort to secure the upset. The Tigers will aim to regroup before facing Clemson in their next game on Saturday (12/14) at 10:00 a.m. on ESPN2.
