CLEMSON, S.C. — Penny Hardaway's Memphis basketball team pulled off a thrilling upset against No. 16 Clemson Tigers, winning 87-82 in overtime on Saturday at Littlejohn Coliseum. This victory marked Memphis's significant rebound from their previous loss to Arkansas State, showcasing their resilience and skill against ranked opposition.
Leading the charge for Memphis were Tyrese Hunter and Colby Rogers, who scored 23 and 22 points, respectively, proving instrumental as they outshot the Clemson defense, hitting seven and four 3-pointers. Hunter's sharp shooting proved pivotal, particularly when he hit a late 3-pointer just as the first half expired, giving Memphis a narrow 33-32 lead.
Memphis escalated their game significantly during the first half, dominating the boards and maintaining stern defensive pressure, which frustrated the Clemson offense. At one point, the Memphis Tigers surged to a 12-5 lead, stunning the home crowd. The offensive efforts of Rogers were notable, as he achieved 13 points by halftime.
Clemson, struggling initially against Memphis’s strong defensive setup, were kept at bay by their inability to hit shots consistently early on, going just 15% from the floor during the opening stretches. Viktor Lahkin eventually found his rhythm, scoring 23 points and gathering 11 rebounds, but Memphis's defense had contained him enough to stay competitive.
The second half saw both teams trading leads, with Clemson clawing back to tie the game on multiple occasions. The turning point came with Dain Dainja's contributions late in the game, where he scored pivotal layups and free throws down the stretch to solidify Memphis's lead heading to overtime.
Coach Penny Hardaway explained why he didn't watch the game film from the Arkansas State loss before this matchup, saying, "Because I knew this wasn’t my team played against Arkansas State... We were just out there looking like we were going to win the game and didn’t compete." This indicated his focus on moving forward and preparing for the challenge of competing with Clemson's stature.
During overtime, Memphis displayed their grit and determination as they executed key plays, with Dain Dainja making free throws significant enough to secure the victory with only 15.3 seconds left on the clock, pushing Memphis up by three points.
Reflecting on the match, Hardaway remarked, "We play like we played today, there’s no way we lose... Now, I think they get the point of why this needs to happen every game," underscoring the importance of maintaining the momentum built from this win.
This was Memphis's fourth victory of Quad 1 caliber this season, reinforcing their status as formidable contenders as they prepare for tougher upcoming matchups against Virginia, Mississippi State, and Ole Miss.
Next, Memphis will look to continue this momentum as they face Virginia on the road this Wednesday, where they will aim to build on their hard-fought victory over Clemson. The matchup against Virginia will be televised nationally, allowing fans to see if Memphis can maintain their offensive efficiency and competitive edge.
Both teams recognize the significance of such matchups for their overall performance, as they head toward their respective conference games. For Clemson, this loss serves as a wake-up call to recalibrate its strategies moving forward, especially with tough games on the horizon against South Carolina and Wake Forest.
Overall, this game encapsulates the thrilling nature of college basketball—a platform where any team can rise to the occasion and claim unexpected victories when it matters most.
