SOUTHAVEN, Miss. (Interstat) — The Memphis Hustle used a dominant first half to overpower the Wisconsin Herd 117-97 in a G League matchup on Thursday night at the DeSoto Civic Center.

Memphis seized control from the opening tip, erupting for 35 points in the first quarter and extending its lead with a 30-point second period. The Hustle’s 65-45 halftime advantage proved insurmountable for Wisconsin, which never got the deficit below 15 points in the second half. The Herd made several pushes, including a 28-point third quarter, but each was answered by the Memphis offense.

The most important part of the game was the Hustle’s explosive and efficient start, which established a tone the Herd could not alter. Memphis shot 50% from the field in the first half and connected on 7 of 15 three-point attempts during that span, building a 20-point lead that effectively decided the contest early. Wisconsin, by contrast, struggled with its shooting throughout, finishing the night at 41.8% from the field and a frigid 22.2% from beyond the arc.

Eric Dixon led all scorers with 34 points and added 10 rebounds for Memphis. Lawson Lovering recorded a double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds, while Charlie Brown posted a versatile line of 14 points, 13 rebounds and 7 assists. Tyler Burton contributed 20 points for the Hustle.

Mark Sears paced Wisconsin with 25 points and 5 assists. Alex Antetokounmpo scored 14 off the bench, and Kobe Stewart added 12 points.

Memphis improved its season record to 12-26, while Wisconsin fell to 11-28. The teams are scheduled for a rematch at the same venue on Friday night.

Statistical dominance underscored the Hustle’s victory. They outrebounded Wisconsin 55-40, dished out 24 assists to the Herd’s 9, and committed only 8 turnovers while forcing 15. Memphis also shot significantly better from distance, making 13 of 29 three-point attempts compared to Wisconsin’s 8 of 36.

The game unfolded as projected by Interstat’s ELO system, which gave Memphis a 62.1% probability to win. The Hustle’s performance validated that prediction with a comprehensive display of offensive firepower and defensive control from the outset.