Williams' 25 Points Pushes Tigers to 10th Win of Season

Wednesday, December 21

Memphis, Tenn.

7 p.m.

University of Memphis

10-3,0-0AAC

Alabama State

1-11,0-0SWAC

Alabama St.

Memphis

Williams' 25 Points Pushes Tigers to 10th Win of Season

Dec 21, 2022 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Memphis Tigers took care of business Wednesday night at FedExForum, defeating Alabama State 83-61 behind fifth-year forward DeAndre Williams' 25-point effort on 11-of-14 shooting.

The Tigers closed the book on the nonconference portion of the schedule with a 10-3 record, their most wins before the American Athletic Conference season since winning 11 in 2019.

On his 20^th point of the night, Williams recorded his 1000^th-point of his career.

Fifth-year guard Kendric Davis tallied 14 points and a season-high 12 assists, just two shy of his AAC record of 14. Redshirt-senior forward Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu had his best game in a Memphis uniform with 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting to go along with seven blocks, both matched his career highs.

Fifth-year guard Elijah McCadden made his first start as a Tiger and nearly produced a double-double with season highs of 10 points and eight rebounds in 33 minutes. He grabbed his 500^th-career rebound in first half.

Memphis shot 55.0 percent as a team (33-60) and held a 76-50 lead with 6:58 to play in the game.

The Tigers blistered the nets in the first half and led 47-37 at the break. Memphis shot 58.1 percent from the floor (18-31) in the opening 20 minutes, with Davis and Williams combining for 25 points.

Alabama State (1-11) was led by Isaiah Range and Alex Anderson, as each scored 16 points.

UP NEXT
The Tigers get a few days off for Christmas before returning to action next week to host South Florida on Dec. 29 at 7 p.m. to open conference play.

POSTGAME NOTES

Memphis used the starting lineup of Kendric Davis, DeAndre Williams, Damaria Franklin, Chandler Lawson and Elijah McCadden for the first time this season.
- The Tigers have used just three different starting lineups in 13 games this year and Wednesday was the first change in the lineup since Nov. 20 against VCU.
Memphis has scored 80+ points in four-straight games for the first time since doing so in seven consecutive from Dec. 4, 2018 to Jan. 3, 2019.
The team swatted a season high 14 blocks in the win, the most by the Tigers since also blocking 14 against Saint Louis last season on Nov. 16, 2021.
The Tigers have now won 12-straight games at FedExForum and are 62-9 at home under head coach Penny Hardaway. The home winning streak is currently the longest streak in the AAC and the 25^th-longest streak in the nation.
Memphis improved to 30-3 at home in nonconference games under Hardaway.
Memphis has now won 34-straight games when shooting 55 percent or better from the field, including three this season. The last defeat was Feb. 1, 2012 at Southern Miss (75-72) when the team shot 56.3 percent.
Chandler Lawson scored six points and grabbed seven rebounds, while blocking a season high two balls in 27 minutes.
Damaria Franklin finished with eight points and three rebounds in his first start as a Tiger.
Johnathan Lawson added six points and six boards in 26 minutes off the bench.

How to follow the Tigers: For complete information on Memphis Tiger Men's Basketball, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.