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Dainja, No. 16 Memphis beat UTSA 75-70, clinch share of AAC regular-season title

AP
Mar 05, 2025

SAN ANTONIO (AP) Dain Dainja scored 19 points and No. 16 Memphis beat UTSA 75-70 on Tuesday night to clinch at least a share of the American Athletic Conference regular-season title.

The Tigers - who won their first regular-season conference title since 2012-13, their final season in Conference USA - will be the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament, which begins March 12.

PJ Haggerty added 18 points, going 6 of 6 from the free-throw line in the final 10 seconds for Memphis (25-5, 15-2 American Athletic Conference). Nick Jourdain added 13 points and Colby Rogers scored 10.

Jonnivius Smith led UTSA (11-18, 5-12) with a season-high 18 points. Marcus Millender added 16, Primo Spears finished with 14 points and seven assists and Tai’Reon Joseph scored 12.

Rogers hit a jumper that gave the Tigers the lead for good almost seven minutes into the game and followed with 3 before Haggerty made a layup to cap a 13-1 run that made it 17-11. Smith hit a 3-pointer that trimmed UTSA's deficit to 23-21 with 8:35 left in the first half but Dainja answered with back-to-back baskets and the Roadrunners got no closer.

Memphis: The Tigers showed some grit, digging in defensively and closing out a road victory despite committing a season-high 22 turnovers.

UTSA: The Roadrunners played swarming defense, keeping Memphis out of rhythm throughout much of the contest but went cold offensively down the stretch.

Millender made the first of two free throws with 3:23 left to cut UTSA's deficit to 69-67 but the Roadrunners didn't score again until Millender hit a 3-pointer with 0.8 seconds remaining.

The Tigers outrebounded UTSA 45-25 and made more free throws (20) than the Roadrunners attempted (18).

Memphis wraps up the regular season at home against South Florida on Friday. UTSA plays its finale Sunday at Charlotte.

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1st Half
MEM
Tigers
41
UTSA
Roadrunners
36

Time		Play	Score
20:00		Tyrese Hunter vs. Baboucarr Njie (PJ Haggerty gains possession)
19:38		Dain Dainja misses two point layup
19:36		Damari Monsanto defensive rebound
19:32		Marcus Millender misses three point jump shot
19:30		Tyrese Hunter defensive rebound
19:26		Tyrese Hunter turnover (bad pass)
19:02		Damari Monsanto misses three point jump shot
19:00		Tyrese Hunter defensive rebound
18:57		Damari Monsanto blocks Tyrese Hunter's two point layup
18:55		Damari Monsanto defensive rebound
18:38	+2	Primo Spears makes two point jump shot (Baboucarr Njie assists)	0-2
18:21		PJ Haggerty turnover (lost ball)
17:57	+3	Marcus Millender makes three point jump shot (Damari Monsanto assists)	0-5
17:44	+2	PJ Haggerty makes two point layup	2-5
17:23		Baboucarr Njie misses two point layup
17:21		Dain Dainja defensive rebound
17:18		Dain Dainja turnover (lost ball) (Damari Monsanto steals)
17:14		Damari Monsanto misses three point jump shot
17:12		David Hermes offensive rebound
17:05	+3	Primo Spears makes three point jump shot (Baboucarr Njie assists)	2-8
16:45		Colby Rogers misses three point jump shot
16:43		Nicholas Jourdain offensive rebound
16:36	+2	Tyrese Hunter makes two point jump shot	4-8
16:17	+2	David Hermes makes two point layup (Marcus Millender assists)	4-10
16:05	+2	Dain Dainja makes two point layup	6-10
16:05		David Hermes shooting foul (Dain Dainja draws the foul)
16:05		Dain Dainja misses regular free throw 1 of 1
16:05		Jonnivius Smith defensive rebound
15:59		Primo Spears turnover (bad pass) (Dante Harris steals)
15:52		Marcus Millender personal foul (Colby Rogers draws the foul)
15:52		TV timeout
15:35		Dante Harris misses two point jump shot
15:33		Moussa Cisse offensive rebound
15:33		Tai'Reon Joseph shooting foul (Moussa Cisse draws the foul)
15:33	+1	Moussa Cisse makes regular free throw 1 of 2	7-10
15:33		Moussa Cisse misses regular free throw 2 of 2
15:33		Damari Monsanto defensive rebound
15:24		Primo Spears misses two point jump shot
15:22		Dante Harris defensive rebound
15:17		Marcus Millender shooting foul (Dante Harris draws the foul)
15:17		Moussa Cisse misses regular free throw 1 of 2
15:17	+1	Moussa Cisse makes regular free throw 2 of 2	8-10
15:09		Baraka Okojie personal foul (Primo Spears draws the foul)
14:51		Baboucarr Njie misses three point jump shot
14:49		Moussa Cisse defensive rebound
14:28	+2	Baraka Okojie makes two point layup	10-10
14:02		Damari Monsanto misses three point jump shot
14:00		Baraka Okojie defensive rebound
13:42		Jonnivius Smith blocks PJ Haggerty's two point layup
13:40		Nicholas Jourdain offensive rebound
13:37		Nicholas Jourdain turnover (traveling)
13:28		PJ Carter shooting foul (Tai'Reon Joseph draws the foul)
13:28		Tai'Reon Joseph misses regular free throw 1 of 2
13:28	+1	Tai'Reon Joseph makes regular free throw 2 of 2	10-11
13:08	+2	Colby Rogers makes two point jump shot	12-11
12:49		Primo Spears misses three point jump shot
12:47		Tigers defensive rebound
12:26		Moussa Cisse turnover (bad pass) (Damari Monsanto steals)
12:22		Moussa Cisse blocks Baboucarr Njie's two point layup
12:20		Moussa Cisse defensive rebound
12:15	+3	Colby Rogers makes three point jump shot (PJ Haggerty assists)	15-11
11:54		Tai'Reon Joseph turnover (lost ball) (PJ Carter steals)
11:50	+2	PJ Haggerty makes two point layup (PJ Carter assists)	17-11
11:50		Roadrunners 30 second timeout
11:50		TV timeout
11:30	+2	Marcus Millender makes two point jump shot	17-13
11:13	+2	Dain Dainja makes two point layup	19-13
10:43	+3	Jonnivius Smith makes three point jump shot (Primo Spears assists)	19-16
10:34		PJ Carter misses three point jump shot
10:32		David Hermes defensive rebound
10:19		Damari Monsanto misses two point jump shot
10:17		Dain Dainja defensive rebound
10:08		David Hermes shooting foul (Tyrese Hunter draws the foul)
10:08	+1	Tyrese Hunter makes regular free throw 1 of 2	20-16
10:08	+1	Tyrese Hunter makes regular free throw 2 of 2	21-16
10:01	+2	Tai'Reon Joseph makes two point layup (Primo Spears assists)	21-18
9:39		Jonnivius Smith blocks Dain Dainja's two point layup
9:37		Jonnivius Smith defensive rebound
9:35		Jump ball. Jonnivius Smith vs. Nicholas Jourdain (Jonnivius Smith gains possession)
9:15		Marcus Millender misses three point jump shot
9:13		PJ Haggerty defensive rebound
9:10		Baboucarr Njie personal foul (Nicholas Jourdain draws the foul)
8:54	+2	Nicholas Jourdain makes two point jump shot	23-18
8:34	+3	Jonnivius Smith makes three point jump shot	23-21
8:20	+2	Dain Dainja makes two point layup (Nicholas Jourdain assists)	25-21
8:05		Jonnivius Smith misses three point jump shot
8:03		Nicholas Jourdain defensive rebound
7:42		Dain Dainja misses two point layup
7:40		Baboucarr Njie defensive rebound
7:23		Jonnivius Smith misses two point jump shot
7:21		PJ Haggerty defensive rebound
7:16		PJ Haggerty misses two point layup
7:14		Dain Dainja offensive rebound
7:07		Dain Dainja misses two point layup
7:05		Nicholas Jourdain offensive rebound
6:54		Baraka Okojie misses three point jump shot
6:52		Dain Dainja offensive rebound
6:44	+2	Dain Dainja makes two point layup	27-21
6:34		Primo Spears misses three point jump shot
6:32		Baraka Okojie defensive rebound
6:19		Tyrese Hunter turnover (bad pass) (Tai'Reon Joseph steals)
5:54		Primo Spears misses three point jump shot
5:54		Roadrunners turnover (shot clock violation)
5:54		TV timeout
5:45		Primo Spears shooting foul (PJ Haggerty draws the foul)
5:45	+1	PJ Haggerty makes regular free throw 1 of 2	28-21
5:45	+1	PJ Haggerty makes regular free throw 2 of 2	29-21
5:28	+2	Primo Spears makes two point layup (Tai'Reon Joseph assists)	29-23
5:18		Tyrese Hunter misses three point jump shot
5:16		Jonnivius Smith defensive rebound
5:16		Damarien Yates personal foul (Jonnivius Smith draws the foul)
5:04		Damari Monsanto misses three point jump shot
5:02		Damarien Yates defensive rebound
4:47		PJ Haggerty misses two point jump shot
4:45		Damarien Yates offensive rebound
4:40		Moussa Cisse misses two point layup
4:37		Moussa Cisse offensive rebound
4:36		Moussa Cisse misses two point layup
4:35		Jonnivius Smith defensive rebound
4:30		Marcus Millender turnover (bad pass) (PJ Haggerty steals)
4:21		Tyrese Hunter turnover (bad pass) (Tai'Reon Joseph steals)
4:17	+2	Tai'Reon Joseph makes two point layup	29-25
3:59	+2	Tyrese Hunter makes two point dunk (PJ Haggerty assists)	31-25
3:40	+2	Jonnivius Smith makes two point layup (Primo Spears assists)	31-27
3:23		Moussa Cisse offensive foul (Damari Monsanto draws the foul)
3:23		Moussa Cisse turnover (offensive foul)
3:23		TV timeout
3:06	+2	Damari Monsanto makes two point layup (Primo Spears assists)	31-29
2:44	+3	Nicholas Jourdain makes three point jump shot	34-29
2:21		Dain Dainja shooting foul (Marcus Millender draws the foul)
2:21		Marcus Millender misses regular free throw 1 of 2
2:21	+1	Marcus Millender makes regular free throw 2 of 2	34-30
2:08		PJ Haggerty misses two point jump shot
2:06		Dain Dainja offensive rebound
2:02	+2	Dain Dainja makes two point layup	36-30
1:39	+2	Marcus Millender makes two point layup	36-32
1:22		Tyrese Hunter turnover (lost ball) (Damari Monsanto steals)
1:14		Tai'Reon Joseph misses three point jump shot
1:12		PJ Haggerty defensive rebound
1:01	+2	Nicholas Jourdain makes two point dunk (Dain Dainja assists)	38-32
0:39		Dain Dainja shooting foul (Jonnivius Smith draws the foul)
0:39	+1	Jonnivius Smith makes regular free throw 1 of 2	38-33
0:39	+1	Jonnivius Smith makes regular free throw 2 of 2	38-34
0:34	+3	Colby Rogers makes three point jump shot (Tyrese Hunter assists)	41-34
0:04		Nicholas Jourdain shooting foul (Primo Spears draws the foul)
0:04	+1	Primo Spears makes regular free throw 1 of 2	41-35
0:04	+1	Primo Spears makes regular free throw 2 of 2	41-36
0:04		Tigers 30 second timeout
0:00		Nicholas Jourdain misses two point jump shot
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
MEM
Tigers
34
UTSA
Roadrunners
34

Time		Play	Score
19:48	+2	PJ Haggerty makes two point driving layup	43-36
19:48		Damari Monsanto shooting foul (PJ Haggerty draws the foul)
19:48	+1	PJ Haggerty makes regular free throw 1 of 1	44-36
19:36		Damari Monsanto misses three point jump shot
19:34		Baboucarr Njie offensive rebound
19:32		Nicholas Jourdain shooting foul (David Hermes draws the foul)
19:32		David Hermes misses regular free throw 1 of 2
19:32	+1	David Hermes makes regular free throw 2 of 2	44-37
19:21		Primo Spears shooting foul (PJ Haggerty draws the foul)
19:21		PJ Haggerty misses regular free throw 1 of 2
19:21	+1	PJ Haggerty makes regular free throw 2 of 2	45-37
19:10	+3	Damari Monsanto makes three point jump shot (Marcus Millender assists)	45-40
18:48		Colby Rogers misses three point jump shot
18:46		Dain Dainja offensive rebound
18:45		PJ Haggerty turnover (bad pass)
18:30		David Hermes turnover (lost ball) (Colby Rogers steals)
18:25		David Hermes blocks Tyrese Hunter's two point driving layup
18:24		Tigers offensive rebound
18:15	+2	Dain Dainja makes two point layup (Colby Rogers assists)	47-40
18:00		Jonnivius Smith misses two point pullup jump shot
17:58		PJ Haggerty defensive rebound
17:50		Colby Rogers turnover (bad pass)
17:41		Dain Dainja blocks Jonnivius Smith's two point driving layup
17:39		Nicholas Jourdain defensive rebound
17:32	+2	Nicholas Jourdain makes two point driving dunk (Colby Rogers assists)	49-40
17:21		Marcus Millender turnover (lost ball) (Tyrese Hunter steals)
17:15		Baboucarr Njie shooting foul (Dain Dainja draws the foul)
17:15	+1	Dain Dainja makes regular free throw 1 of 2	50-40
17:15	+1	Dain Dainja makes regular free throw 2 of 2	51-40
17:08		Marcus Millender turnover (lost ball) (Tyrese Hunter steals)
17:02	+2	Dain Dainja makes two point dunk (Tyrese Hunter assists)	53-40
17:01		Roadrunners 30 second timeout
17:01		TV timeout
16:33		Marcus Millender misses two point driving layup
16:32		Marcus Millender offensive rebound
16:31	+3	Jonnivius Smith makes three point jump shot (Damari Monsanto assists)	53-43
16:29		Official timeout
16:29		TV timeout
16:05		Jonnivius Smith shooting foul (Nicholas Jourdain draws the foul)
16:05	+1	Nicholas Jourdain makes regular free throw 1 of 2	54-43
16:05		Nicholas Jourdain misses regular free throw 2 of 2
16:05		Tai'Reon Joseph defensive rebound
15:51	+3	Tai'Reon Joseph makes three point stepback jump shot (Primo Spears assists)	54-46
15:29		Colby Rogers misses two point pullup jump shot
15:27		Nicholas Jourdain offensive rebound
15:24		Nicholas Jourdain turnover (bad pass) (Marcus Millender steals)
15:18		Dain Dainja personal foul (Marcus Millender draws the foul)
15:13		Marcus Millender misses three point pullup jump shot
15:10		Tigers defensive rebound
14:58		Primo Spears shooting foul (PJ Haggerty draws the foul)
14:58	+1	PJ Haggerty makes regular free throw 1 of 2	55-46
14:58	+1	PJ Haggerty makes regular free throw 2 of 2	56-46
14:47		Moussa Cisse blocks Jonnivius Smith's two point layup
14:45		Moussa Cisse defensive rebound
14:26		PJ Haggerty misses two point stepback jump shot
14:24		Marcus Millender defensive rebound
14:09		Primo Spears misses two point pullup jump shot
14:07		PJ Haggerty defensive rebound
13:58	+3	PJ Carter makes three point jump shot (Nicholas Jourdain assists)	59-46
13:43	+2	Jonnivius Smith makes two point alley-oop dunk (Marcus Millender assists)	59-48
13:24		Primo Spears blocks PJ Haggerty's two point cutting layup
13:22		Tai'Reon Joseph defensive rebound
13:17		Marcus Millender misses three point stepback jump shot
13:15		Marcus Millender offensive rebound
13:10		Damari Monsanto misses three point jump shot
13:08		Nicholas Jourdain defensive rebound
12:48		Colby Rogers turnover (lost ball) (Marcus Millender steals)
12:48		Colby Rogers personal foul (Tai'Reon Joseph draws the foul)
12:41	+2	Baboucarr Njie makes two point driving reverse layup	59-50
12:05		PJ Carter turnover (bad pass) (Tai'Reon Joseph steals)
11:58		Nicholas Jourdain blocks Tai'Reon Joseph's two point driving layup
11:56		Moussa Cisse defensive rebound
11:54		Moussa Cisse turnover (bad pass) (Baboucarr Njie steals)
11:35		Primo Spears misses three point jump shot
11:33		PJ Carter defensive rebound
11:26	+2	Colby Rogers makes two point driving finger roll layup	61-50
11:14	+2	Marcus Millender makes two point driving floating bank jump shot	61-52
11:05		Tigers 30 second timeout
11:05		TV timeout
10:58		Colby Rogers misses two point pullup jump shot
10:56		Baboucarr Njie defensive rebound
10:50	+2	Tai'Reon Joseph makes two point running dunk (Primo Spears assists)	61-54
10:24		Tyrese Hunter misses two point layup
10:22		Jonnivius Smith defensive rebound
10:08		Tyrese Hunter shooting foul (Tai'Reon Joseph draws the foul)
10:08	+1	Tai'Reon Joseph makes regular free throw 1 of 2	61-55
10:08	+1	Tai'Reon Joseph makes regular free throw 2 of 2	61-56
9:46	+2	Dain Dainja makes two point driving layup	63-56
9:46		Jonnivius Smith shooting foul (Dain Dainja draws the foul)
9:46	+1	Dain Dainja makes regular free throw 1 of 1	64-56
9:38	+2	Primo Spears makes two point driving floating jump shot	64-58
9:08	+2	Tyrese Hunter makes two point pullup jump shot (PJ Haggerty assists)	66-58
8:44		Baraka Okojie personal foul (Jonnivius Smith draws the foul)
8:34		Primo Spears misses two point pullup jump shot
8:32		Jonnivius Smith offensive rebound
8:31		Baraka Okojie personal foul (Jonnivius Smith draws the foul)
8:31		Marcus Millender turnover (bad pass)
8:08		Colby Rogers misses three point jump shot
8:06		Jonnivius Smith defensive rebound
8:05		Nicholas Jourdain personal foul (Jonnivius Smith draws the foul)
8:05	+1	Jonnivius Smith makes regular free throw 1 of 2	66-59
8:05		Jonnivius Smith misses regular free throw 2 of 2
8:05		Dain Dainja defensive rebound
7:47		PJ Haggerty turnover (bad pass) (Primo Spears steals)
7:42		Tyrese Hunter blocks Primo Spears's two point driving layup
7:40		Tai'Reon Joseph offensive rebound
7:28		Dain Dainja shooting foul (Marcus Millender draws the foul)
7:28		TV timeout
7:28	+1	Marcus Millender makes regular free throw 1 of 2	66-60
7:28	+1	Marcus Millender makes regular free throw 2 of 2	66-61
7:12		Dain Dainja turnover (out of bounds)
6:51		Nicholas Jourdain blocks Jonnivius Smith's two point layup
6:49		Nicholas Jourdain defensive rebound
6:41		PJ Haggerty turnover (lost ball) (Primo Spears steals)
6:36		Primo Spears misses three point pullup jump shot
6:34		Marcus Millender offensive rebound
6:33	+3	Primo Spears makes three point jump shot (Jonnivius Smith assists)	66-64
6:08		PJ Haggerty misses two point floating jump shot
6:06		Roadrunners defensive rebound
6:00		Primo Spears misses two point driving layup
5:58		Moussa Cisse defensive rebound
5:30		Colby Rogers misses three point jump shot
5:28		Primo Spears defensive rebound
4:56		Roadrunners turnover (shot clock violation)
4:37	+3	Nicholas Jourdain makes three point jump shot (Colby Rogers assists)	69-64
4:32		Tigers 30 second timeout
4:16	+2	Jonnivius Smith makes two point dunk (Primo Spears assists)	69-66
3:43		Tigers turnover (shot clock violation)
3:43		TV timeout
3:23		Moussa Cisse shooting foul (Marcus Millender draws the foul)
3:23	+1	Marcus Millender makes regular free throw 1 of 2	69-67
3:23		Marcus Millender misses regular free throw 2 of 2
3:23		Dain Dainja defensive rebound
2:59		PJ Haggerty turnover (lost ball) (Damari Monsanto steals)
2:54		Marcus Millender misses three point jump shot
2:51		Tigers defensive rebound
2:40		Tyrese Hunter misses two point driving floating jump shot
2:38		Tyrese Hunter offensive rebound
2:36		Tyrese Hunter misses two point layup
2:34		Tai'Reon Joseph defensive rebound
2:15		Primo Spears misses three point stepback jump shot
2:13		Tyrese Hunter defensive rebound
1:44		PJ Haggerty turnover (bad pass) (Jonnivius Smith steals)
1:39		Tai'Reon Joseph misses three point pullup jump shot
1:37		Tyrese Hunter defensive rebound
1:07		Damari Monsanto shooting foul (Nicholas Jourdain draws the foul)
1:07		Nicholas Jourdain misses regular free throw 1 of 2
1:07		Nicholas Jourdain misses regular free throw 2 of 2
0:53		Primo Spears misses two point driving finger roll layup
0:51		Tyrese Hunter defensive rebound
0:25		Dain Dainja turnover (traveling)
0:25		Roadrunners 60 second timeout
0:13		Primo Spears misses three point pullup jump shot
0:11		PJ Haggerty defensive rebound
0:10		Jonnivius Smith personal foul (PJ Haggerty draws the foul)
0:10	+1	PJ Haggerty makes regular free throw 1 of 2	70-67
0:10	+1	PJ Haggerty makes regular free throw 2 of 2	71-67
0:10		Tigers 60 second timeout
0:07		Damari Monsanto turnover (bad pass)
0:06		Baboucarr Njie personal foul (PJ Haggerty draws the foul)
0:06	+1	PJ Haggerty makes regular free throw 1 of 2	72-67
0:06	+1	PJ Haggerty makes regular free throw 2 of 2	73-67
0:01	+3	Marcus Millender makes three point pullup jump shot	73-70
0:01		Jonnivius Smith personal foul (PJ Haggerty draws the foul)
0:01	+1	PJ Haggerty makes regular free throw 1 of 2	74-70
0:01	+1	PJ Haggerty makes regular free throw 2 of 2	75-70
0:00		End of period

+ 1

PJ Haggerty makes regular free throw 2 of 2