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Memphis squeezes past Austin Peay in OT

Dec 17, 2010 - 4:18 AM Memphis, TN (Sports Network) - Chris Crawford scored 18 points and Will Barton hit a go-ahead three-pointer in overtime, helping No. 18 Memphis fend off Austin Peay, 70-68, at FedEx Forum.

Charles Carmouche chipped in 16 points, seven rebounds and seven assists for the Tigers (8-1), who were coming off their lone loss of the season against nationally-ranked Kansas on December 7.

Tyshwan Edmondson paced Austin Peay (6-6) with 22 points on 9-of-25 shooting. Edmondson also pulled down 10 rebounds for the Governors, who received 17 points and 11 boards from Melvin Baker in the heartbreaking loss.

Edmondson drained a three-pointer to give Austin Peay a 55-53 lead with just under a minute to play in regulation. Following Baker's block of Tarik Black, Caleb Brown made 1-of-2 from throw with 28 seconds showing.

Will Barton was fouled grabbing the rebound on the second miss and made his first try from the line. He missed the second, but Memphis got the offensive carom, leading to Antonio Barton's tying shot with 14 seconds left.

Edmondson had a chance to win it at the buzzer, but Black blocked the attempt.

Will Barton's make from behind the arc broke a 62-62 game with 1:47 left in the extra session. He then came up with a steal, and Will Coleman's layup provided a 67-62 cushion for Memphis.

Another Austin Peay turnover preceded a Black free throw with 43 seconds showing. Baker and Justin Blake kept the Governors in it with three-pointers the next two times down, and Memphis made just 2-of-4 free throws in the final 25 seconds.

Following Will Barton's 1-for-2 showing at the line with 11 seconds to go, Blake was off the mark on his three-point try, ending the upset bid.

Austin Peay, which had won three of four coming in, shot a horrific 17.9 percent from the field in the first half but still only trailed 24-19 at the intermission.

Things changed immediately coming out of the locker room, as the Governors scored on seven of their first eight possessions and held the Tigers without a point over the first three-plus minutes.

Edmondson had nine on the subsequent 16-0 spurt, ending it with a jumper for a 35-24 edge.

Carmouche quelled the stretch with a four-point play, and Memphis managed to even the score at 47-all when Crawford's three-pointer capped a 10-0 run with 8:35 remaining.

Game Notes

Memphis played its first game without leading scorer Wesley Witherspoon, who recently had knee surgery and is out until mid-January...The Barton brothers of Memphis both scored nine points....Blake and Brown netted nine apiece for Austin Peay...Austin Peay shot 31.1 percent overall, compared to the Tigers' 41.1 percent effort...Memphis leads the all-time series, 16-4.