The shot fell and the referee’s whistle blew. Dainja reclined on the floor, stuck his tongue out and flexed his muscles toward the rafters. He knocked down the subsequent free throw as Daniels (who fouled out on the play) found his seat on the Green Wave bench.

PJ Haggerty made eight free throws and forced a huge turnover in the final minute as 16th-ranked Memphis beat Tulane 78-77 to advance to the American Athletic Conference Tournament championship game.

The postgame press conference had ended when Memphis basketball’s All-America guard PJ Haggerty leaned forward, speaking into the microphone.