Tigers Top ECU 67-54
MEMPHIS - Joe Jackson tossed in 15 and Shaq Goodwin had twelve as Memphis held off a second half ECU comeback to hold on 67-54 in FedEx Forum.
The Tigers went on a 10-nothing run to open the game off of four ECU turnovers. Adonis Thomas' basket put Memphis up 15-5.
Advertisement
East Carolina only connected on two field goal attemps in the first 16 minutes of the first half. Maurice Kemp heated up late in the half with 7 points, but 12 Pirate turnovers found the Tigers leading by twenty at halftime, 39-19.
Something happened at halftime because the light bulb went on as ECU went on a 14-0 run to open the second half on three Shamarr Bowden treys. A Ty Armstrong tap-in pulled the Pirates to within four points at 49-44 with just 9:06 to play.
But two Memphis baskets and two free throws from Stephins put the Tigers back out by ten at the seven minute mark. Goodwin's layup follow underneath pushed the lead to twelve.
Armstrong canned a half hook in the lane for ECU(9-5/0-1) to cut the lead to eight at 59-51 with 4:50 remaining. Then Robert Sampson packed a Shaq Goodwin dunk attempt to give the basketball back to the Pirates on the jump ball call.
Robert Sampson's trey from the top of the key cut the lead to seven before a Joe Jackson knocked in a basket for Memphis(11-3/1-0).
Sampson's next trey attempt after an ECU steal missed and the Tigers put the game away by twelve on a Goodwin dunk.
Shamarr Bowden and Maurice Kemp had eleven points for the Pirates while Miguel Paul and Robert Sampson scored 12.
Memphis controlled the glass by ten and hit 49 percent from the floor to ECU's 39 percent.