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Memphis survives Arkansas State in OT

Dec 2, 2010 - 5:15 AM Memphis, TN (Sports Network) - Will Barton scored a game-high 20 points as the 14th-ranked Memphis Tigers survived an overtime scare from the Arkansas State Red Wolves, 78-71, at FedEx Forum.

Wesley Witherspoon scored 12 points and both Joe Jackson and Antonio Barton finished with 10 for the Tigers (6-0), who had been idle since their November 23 victory over Tennessee-Martin.

"I am extremely upset right now," said Memphis head coach Josh Pastner. "I am so disappointed in our effort because there was no sense of urgency tonight. I have told the guys before our last two or three games that we cannot afford to take any team lightly. We are not good enough to do that. We are not able to just show up and expect to win."

Daniel Bryant led Arkansas State with 16 points and Martavius Adams added 11 points and 10 rebounds for the Red Wolves (1-6), who lost again on the heels of their lone victory over Southeast Missouri State on Saturday.

Donald Boone scored 12 and Malcoln Kirkland added 10 points in defeat.

After the Red Wolves opened the game with a three-pointer, the Tigers responded with a lengthy 23-2 run that stretched inside the 8 1/2 minute mark.

Arkansas State was able to cut the deficit to 10 at 32-22 in the final minute of the half, but Memphis took a 35-24 lead into the intermission behind eight points from Barton.

Adams' layup made it a four-point game in the opening minutes of the second, but Memphis quickly stretched the lead to 10 at the 14:13 mark with a Barton layup. Barton added a three-pointer just over a minute later to extend the lead to 11 at 55-44.

The Red Wolves made it a one-point game with a Bryant three-pointer at 2:10, and Bryant tied the game at 65 on the first of two free throws with 35 ticks left in regulation.

Bryant missed the second from the line and after Barton grabbed the rebound Memphis' Chris Crawford attempted a jumper in the final seconds but the shot was off-target, sending the game into overtime.

"We had a chance to win it," Arkansas State head coach John Brady stated. "We make a free throw at the end of [regulation], and we may have won the game because they struggled with getting a shot off of any quality. Then we come out and score the first four of the overtime, it's tough."

Arkansas State kept the game close in the opening minutes of the overtime but after a Johnson layup and free-throw, the Tigers were up five, 74-69.

The teams traded trips to the line and after Arkansas State's Boone missed a triple that could have made it a one-possession game, D.J. Stephens converted on a driving layup with 16 seconds left to account for the final margin.

Game Notes

Memphis leads the all-time series 32-26...The Red Wolves only made 2-of-5 in the overtime, while Memphis went 4-of-8...Next up for the Tigers is a visit from Western Kentucky on Saturday, while Arkansas State will meet Lyon College on the 6th.