LAHAINA, Hawaii — Welcome back to Maui, indeed.
In the first game of the Maui Invitational on the Valley Isle since the wildfire devastation to Lahaina in August 2023, Memphis and two-time defending national champion UConn put on a show as the Tigers upset the second-ranked Huskies, 99-97 in overtime on Monday.
“We were actually Lahaina Strong today,” said Memphis coach Penny Hardaway.
The high-intensity game, capped with a notable upset, put an immediate spotlight back on the Valley Isle some 15 months after the tragedy that killed 102 people and destroyed or damaged thousands of structures. Historic Lahaina town itself is still in a long recovery process as one of the island’s signature events returned.
Hardaway, the former NBA All-Star, pointed to the strength of the people of Lahaina as an example for his group.
“That just bleeds right into what we talked about before we came over here. (They) went through the horrible wildfires and it was devastating, but they grew together. They bonded,” Hardaway said.
“I said, we need to use that type of strength for ourselves going into this fabulous tournament, and to be able to give them this game today, the very first game at 9:30 (a.m.), it's amazing to jump start this thing off. So thankful, so blessed to be here to get the invitation to come, and I love everything about Maui, man. I'm glad that it's recovering now.”
The atmosphere in the 2,400-seat Lahaina Civic Center was at its Maui best, with the UConn and Memphis fan bases representing well and neutral and local fans filling up whatever space remained.
Tigers guard Colby Rogers said the team had talked about what happened in Lahaina coming into the tournament.
“It was unfortunate what happened with the fire and everything last year,” Rogers said, “but I think for us, we're just extremely grateful to be here this year, to be invited here and to play UConn the first game. We looked at it like this is an opportunity of a lifetime. This is why guys play basketball, why we be in the gym, why we wake up early, late hours, to have games like this and showcase our talent.”
Point guard Tyrese Hunter was in the zone in the second half. He hit three 3-pointers in a three-minute span to stake his team to a double-digit lead including a four-point play that saw him slide on his backside into a group of Memphis fans along the sideline.
“I played these guys last year in New York, and I know the type of intensity that they were going to bring for the game, so I knew what to expect,” said Hunter, who shot 7-for-10 on 3s and finished with a game-high 26 points. “But just being in that stretch and being in the flow, it felt good.”
Memphis drew all the wrong kind of headlines in the offseason and preseason. Four members of Hardaway staff were fired in early September, seemingly the latest chapter in a tenure that has been marked by accusations of NCAA violations.
Only one player returned from last year’s team that started 15-2 but ended up missing the NCAA Tournament.
Hardaway agreed that it was the biggest win of his seven-year college coaching career.
Memphis (5-0) faces Michigan State in Tuesday's first semifinal at 1 p.m. Hawaii time.
UConn rallied furiously, making up a 13-point deficit in the final four minutes. Huskies guard Solo Ball hit two 3-pointers down the stretch in regulation, including the game-tying shot with 1.2 seconds left.
UConn coach Dan Hurley was animated throughout the game, at times openly calling out the officials.
The UConn bench was assessed two technical fouls — a team trainer drew a whistle in the first half, and Hurley himself with 40 seconds left in overtime when he reacted to an over-the-back call.
The latter allowed Memphis to score four points on four free throw makes by PJ Carter, a huge swing.
Hurley credited Memphis for their physical, disruptive style in the postgame press conference, but was still incensed at the officiating.
“For that call to be made at that point of the game was a complete joke, all right?” Hurley said. “And then for me, I don't know what happened. I might have lost my balance by the absurdity of the call or maybe I tripped. But if I made that call at that moment I would have ignored the fact that I was on my back … I would have ignored that.”
Forward Tarris Reed Jr. led the Huskies with 22 points and 11 rebounds off the bench.
UConn (4-1) takes on the Colorado at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Note: Story updated with result of Michigan State and Colorado.
Brian McInnis covers the state’s sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.