UVA Falls Short To #21 Memphis 64-62 (12-18-24)
By: Ty Tracy
All Photo Credit: UVA basketball
The UVA Cavaliers suffered their first loss at home against PJ Haggerty and the No. 21 Memphis Tigers 64 to 62. The Cavaliers’ Defense was giving the Tigers a hard time in the first half on the offensive side of the court shooting 28.6% on the field along shooting 14.3% at the three-point land. Cavaliers’ Forward Elijah Saunders and Guard Taine Murray led the team with a combined of 12 points helping the Cavaliers to take the in the first half 30 to 21.
Then in the second half, Penny Hardaway made a coaching adjustment by turning up their defensive pressure in the second half, sparking their rally, then the Tigers started to find their rhythm, especially Tigers’ guard PJ Haggerty having the hot hand scoring 21 out of 27 points all in the second half. Midway in the three-minute mark, Virginia closed to 57-53 on a basket by Isaac McKneely with 2:58 to play, but Haggerty pushed the lead back to 60-53 with a 3-pointer with 2:27 left that changed the momentum down the stretch toward the end of the game with the final score being 64 to 62. Haggerty commented on his play in the first half saying that he was trying to feel out their defense the first half and seeing what’s available. Tigers’ Big Man Dain Danja played a huge role Wednesday night off the bench recording his third double-double in the season scoring 12 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. Dain Danja collected seven offensive rebounds to keep the offensive possession alive in critical situations.
Head Coach Penny Hardaway was pleased with Danja’s rebounding performance saying “Dain did a phenomenal job when he first came in the game. He had seven offensive rebounds, his best game by far on the offense glass, and we needed every last one of them.” As for UVA Head Coach Ron Sanchez was pleased with the team’s effort Wednesday, especially on the defensive side of the ball, but he mentioned that “we won a good amount possession but not enough and that’s the difference. You got two or three more on the defensive possession.” Defensive possession was the key reason for the Cavaliers losing against the Tigers in situational basketball. The Cavaliers are now zero and four against ranked teams this year, and Coach Sanchez still believes that the team can make a change and adjustments.
The Virginia Cavaliers will be back at home Sunday against the American Eagles for their last non-conference before they open their first conference game at home against North Carolina St Wolfpack on December 31st
