Memphis knocks out UConn on Dan Hurley technical in OT thriller at Maui Invitational

On By Littum

LAHAINA, Hawaii – It was Maui magic. An instant classic.

But at the end of 45 minutes of back and forth – which included an 18-5 UConn regulation; a buzzer-beating 3 by Solo Ball to force overtime; offsetting technical fouls due to an offensive game in overtime; a technical foul on Huskies coach Dan Hurley for calling the officials a “f—ing joke”; Memphis made seven of its last eight free throws, six by PJ Carter; and UConn airballed its desperate 3-point heave as time expired—Memphis survived the No. 2 UConn 99-97 to snap the longest Division I winning streak at 17 games, handing the two-time defending national champions their first loss since Feb. 20 .

And that was all before lunchtime locally. It turns out the Maui Invitational missed the Lahaina Civic Center. The tournament’s triumphant return to its longtime home, after moving to Honolulu last year in the wake of the August 2023 wildfires, more than delivered.

Tyrese Hunter led Memphis with 26 points and tied a career high with seven 3-pointers, but Carter was the late star, saving Memphis by making all six overtime free throws after Hurley’s late technical. Ball, whose 3-pointer with 1.2 seconds left in regulation ended a frantic UConn comeback attempt, finished with 10 points but fouled out in overtime, one of three Huskies to finish the game sticking to the guy. Tarris Reed Jr., who set a new season high with 22 points, led UConn in scoring, while Alex Karaban’s four 3-pointers were crucial to the game even making it past regulation.

When Hunter hit his seventh 3 with 8:35 left to put Memphis up 10, it looked like the Huskies would lose their first non-conference game since last season’s epic against Kansas at Allen Fieldhouse. But the Huskies never faded, with Karaban and Liam McNeely’s 3-point shooting pulling them back into it. Memphis, meanwhile, didn’t make a field goal over the final four minutes of regulation. And as if this game needed more theatrics, why did UConn get one last look to send the game into overtime? Because Memphis was called for a 10-second violation with 14.2 seconds left, Ball’s big-time 3 set up.

In overtime, both teams traded baskets to start, but the hoops eventually gave way to hysteria as Memphis bigs Moussa Cisse and Dain Dainja got into an argument with UConn big Samson Johnson, bringing both benches to the brink of clearing. Even Hurley and Hardaway got involved, with Memphis assistant Nolan Smith trying to play peacemaker. In the end, Dainja and Samson were both assessed technical fouls, but it was Samson’s fifth, leaving UConn without a viable big man in the final few minutes of the game. Meanwhile, Memphis star PJ Haggerty — who finished with 22 points, 11 of which came at the free throw line — was fouled in the final 30 seconds of regulation trying to go for a game-sealing defensive rebound.

But the deciding factor Monday afternoon was when Hurley, whose bench was assessed an early technical for complaining to the officials after UConn picked up six personal fouls in the game’s first five minutes, blasted his top with 40 seconds left after McNeely was called for an over-back foul trying to grab an offensive rebound. Hurley had to be restrained by assistant Kimani Young, but the damage was done.

“It was a joke,” Hurley said. “I mean, I just saw it … I had a lot of issues with what happened in the game … Because the call to be made at that point in the game is a complete joke.”

His technical gave Memphis two more shots in addition to the two it earned on McNeely’s foul. Carter sank all four, giving Memphis the margin it ultimately needed to ride out the rest of the game.

Memphis will now play the winner of Michigan State and Colorado in the semifinals on Tuesday, while UConn will take on the loser of the consolation bracket.

(Photo: Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)