Memphis controls Charlotte 77-54 behind Aaron Bradshaw and a decisive first-half defensive surge

Memphis delivers wire-to-wire win at home in American Athletic Conference play

Memphis defeated Charlotte 77-54 on Sunday, February 8, 2026, at FedExForum, building an early lead and sustaining control throughout in an American Athletic Conference matchup. The Tigers improved to 12-11 overall and 7-4 in league play, while the 49ers moved to 13-11 overall and 7-4 in conference action.

Aaron Bradshaw led Memphis with 16 points and six rebounds. Julius Thedford posted a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds and added three steals, helping anchor a defensive performance that limited Charlotte’s scoring opportunities for long stretches. Sincere Parker also scored 11 points for Memphis.

Early separation: Memphis’ first-half margin shaped the game

Memphis scored first and did not trail after taking the lead in the opening minute. The Tigers’ advantage expanded steadily, and they carried a 37-17 lead into halftime. Curtis Givens III paced Memphis in first-half scoring with eight points as the Tigers’ perimeter pressure and defensive rebounding reduced Charlotte’s second-chance looks and transition chances.

The second half was played closer on the scoreboard, with Memphis and Charlotte nearly even over the final 20 minutes. Bradshaw scored nine of his 16 points after halftime, and Memphis maintained its spacing and interior scoring to prevent any sustained Charlotte run that could meaningfully cut into the deficit.

Charlotte’s scoring leaders and offensive constraints

Charlotte was led by Arden Conyers with 14 points. Dezayne Mingo scored 12, and Damoni Harrison added nine. Despite those individual totals, Charlotte’s offense struggled to generate consistent production early, a factor reflected in the 20-point halftime gap.

From a game-flow perspective, Charlotte’s challenge was twofold: recovering from a low-scoring first half while also finding stops against a Memphis lineup that produced across multiple contributors. The Tigers’ ability to combine interior scoring with rebounding presence kept the margin stable, even as the tempo and scoring improved after the break.

What the result means in the AAC standings picture

With the win, Memphis drew even with Charlotte in conference record at 7-4, tightening the mid-table portion of the AAC race. For both programs, the game reinforced the importance of first-half execution in league play, where early deficits can be difficult to overcome once defensive matchups settle and possessions slow late.

• Final: Memphis 77, Charlotte 54
• Halftime: Memphis 37, Charlotte 17
• Memphis leaders: Aaron Bradshaw (16 points), Julius Thedford (11 points, 11 rebounds, 3 steals), Sincere Parker (11 points)
• Charlotte leaders: Arden Conyers (14 points), Dezayne Mingo (12 points), Damoni Harrison (9 points)

Memphis established the game’s defining margin before halftime and sustained control with rebounding and multi-player scoring in the second half.