“Boy that was an ugly win,” said Memphis head coach Josh Pastner. “But, you know what, a win is a win and winning is hard.”

Williams has now scored 20 points in five consecutive games, the most since Sean Banks recorded 20 plus points in the final six games of the 2003-04 season. He has also led the Tigers in scoring in all six games.

Willie Kemp scored in double figures for the third time in four games, adding 11 points to go with a career high eight rebounds and six assists. Doneal Mack was the only other Tiger in double figures, scoring 11 points in 32 minutes. Pierre Henderson-Niles scored just two points, but made an impact with a career high 11 rebounds.

The Tigers struggled out of the gate and trailed 11-2 when Trey Finn knocked in a three point basket at the 16:31 mark. The Red Wolves would extend their lead to as many as 13, leading 22-9 with just under 10 minutes in the first half. Memphis then countered with an 11-2 run of their own to cut the lead to 24-20 at the 6:58 mark. Memphis, however, continued to miss shots and trailed 32-28 at the break.

Kemp then scored five-straight points to make it 39-38. After missing an and-one free throw that would have tied the game, Kemp raced to grab his own rebound and then quickly dished it to Williams who laid it in to give Memphis its first lead, 40-39 with 14:38 remaining. The Tigers would never look back, going on 34-16 run to close out the game.

Jejuan Brown led the Red Wolves with 17 points on 6-for-10 shooting to go along with seven boards. Martavius Adams recorded a double-double with 11 points and 12 boards. Adams, however, fouled out of the game at the 7:53 mark. Memphis outscored ASU 22-12 after Adams left the game.

The Tigers once again used their pressure defense to cause turnovers, forcing the Red Wolves into 19 turnovers and converting them into 26 points.

After shooting just 23 percent in the first half, Memphis made 19-of-34 shots in the second, bringing their overall shooting percentage to 39 for the game. The Tigers were just 1-of-13 from beyond the arc and 19-of-33 from the charity stripe.

Arkansas State started out the game making shots, shooting 55 percent through the first eight minutes. However, Memphis’ “D” slowed ASU to just 35.7 percent shooting for the game. Memphis also out-rebounded Arkansas State 49-43.

“Again, I said in the beginning when we’re not good offensively the only way we’re going to win games is to be really good defensively,” said Pastner. “We forced 19 turnovers and held them at 36 percent from the field, and we won the rebound battle.”

The Red Wolves also struggled from the line, making just 11-of-20 from the line. This is the sixth-consecutive game the Tigers have held their opponent to under 60 points.

The Tigers will return to the court at FedExForum on Wednesday, Dec. 9, against the Montana State Bobcats.