Staring down the two-time defending national champion UConn Huskies, the Memphis basketball team held their collective gaze.

Tyrese Hunter scored 17 of his 26 points after halftime to lead Memphis to a 99-97 overtime win against two-time defending national champion and second-ranked UConn in the first round of the Maui Invitational.

The back-to-back defending champs have their first loss of the year just five games into the season. Penny Hardaway and unranked Memphis knocked off No.

The Tigers were 12 of 22 from beyond at the arc, but still needed overtime to beat the two-time defending champs after UConn erased a late 13-point deficit.

Tyrese Hunter tossed in a game-high 26 points to lead Memphis to a 99-97 upset victory over No. 2 UConn on Monday in the first round of the Maui Invitational in Lahaina, Hawaii.

Social media reacts to No. 2 UConn basketball's loss to Memphis in The Maui Invitational quarterfinal in Maui, Hawaii:

Tarris Reed Jr., Jaylin Stewart stepped up big, but UConn men fell to Memphis in overtime at the Maui Invitational opener.

Memphis basketball upset No. 2 UConn, the two-time defending national champion, 99-97 in overtime Monday at the Maui Invitational at the Lahaina Civic Center. In what is perhaps the biggest win of coach Penny Hardaway’s career,

The Memphis Tigers men’s basketball team picks up their signature win of the season, taking down the #2 UConn Huskies, the two-time defending national champions, 99-97 in overtime. Tyrese Hunter scored 26 points,