Dain Dainja scores career-best 25 and No. 18 Memphis uses late run to beat Rice 84-72

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Memphis forward Dain Dainja (42) shoots defended by Rice forward Andrew Akuchie (13) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Nikki Boertman)

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Rice forward Caden Powell defends Memphis forward Dain Dainja (42) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Nikki Boertman)

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Memphis guard PJ Haggerty (4) drives with the ball defended by Rice forward Andrew Akuchie (13) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Nikki Boertman)

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Memphis guard PJ Haggerty (4) and Rice guard Denver Anglin (4) reach for a rebound during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Nikki Boertman)

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Memphis forward Nicholas Jourdain, left, shoots defended by Rice forward Caden Powell, right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Nikki Boertman)

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Rice guard Emory Lanier (2) defends Memphis guard PJ Haggerty (4) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Nikki Boertman)

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Memphis guard PJ Haggerty (4) shoots defended by Rice guard Denver Anglin (4) and forward Caden Powell, right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Nikki Boertman)

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Rice forward Caden Powell defends a shot attempt by Memphis guard Tyrese Hunter (11) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Nikki Boertman)

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Memphis forward Nicholas Jourdain, center, blocks a shot by Rice forward Caden Powell during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Nikki Boertman)

By CLAY BAILEY

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Dain Dainja scored a career-best 25 points and had 10 rebounds, and No. 18 Memphis used a late 10-0 run to beat Rice 84-72 on Wednesday night.

PJ Haggerty added 21 points for Memphis (23-5, 13-2 American Athletic Conference), and Nicholas Jourdan finished with 19 points and nine rebounds. The Tigers have won 10 of 11.

Caden Powell Led Rice (13-16, 4-12) with 19 points and seven rebounds. Denver Anglin scored 14 points and Andrew Akuchie had 12.

Memphis stayed atop the AAC standings, 1 1/2 games ahead of North Texas and UAB, both of which play Thursday night — the Mean Green at Florida Atlantic and the Blazers at Wichita State.

Takeaways

Rice: While Rice had lost 11 of 13 coming into the game, only one of its previous 10 defeats was by double digits (Tulane on Jan. 25), and its average margin of defeat in those games was 4.3 points.

Memphis: The Tigers struggled to put away the Owls until asserting themselves in the final minutes.

Key moment

With 3:52 left, Rice’s Kellen Amos fed Caden Powell for a dunk that tied the game at 70-all. Memphis responded with its 10-0 run, including baskets by Haggerty and Dainja, who scored 18 second-half points. Dainja also had two blocks in one Rice possession during the spurt.

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Key stat

Neither team shot well from 3-point range. Memphis made one of its seven 3-point attempts in the first half, allowing Rice to keep it close, and finished 2 of 13 beyond the arc. Rice was 5 of 21 on 3s.

Up next

Both teams play road games on Sunday. Rice visits UTSA, while Memphis plays at UAB.

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