Tigers Topple ECU 75-68
GREENVILLE, N.C. - Joe Jackson scored 26 points to lead Memphis past scrappy East Carolina 75-68 in Minges Coliseum Wednesday night.
The Pirates led by as much as five on two Akeem Richmond treys in the first half as the Tigers started out shooting cold. A Chris Crawford basket and a Shaq Goodwin dunk tied the game at 13 with just under eight minutes to go.
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There were five lead changes in the first half. Ty Armstrong scored twice in a row to give ECU a three point lead with 3:25 in the half.
Adonis Thompson scored three times in a row as Memphis(17-3/6-0) took a one point lead into the locker room at intermission.
East Carolina(12-8/3-4) had the lead only once in the second half on two Armstrong free throws to open the half.
Jackson took over in the second half with 18 of his 26 points. Geron Johnson scored 13 and Chris Crawford had 11 for the Tigers. Ty Armstrong led East Carolina with 18 points and 9 rebounds while Miguel Paul tossed in 15 and Maurice Kemp had 13 points and 7 rebounds.
Memphis hit 43 percent of their shots including 6 of 13 from three-point range while holding ECU to 41 percent and just 4 of 18 from the arc.
The Pirates were playing without the services of Robert Sampson who was injured and Shamarr Bowden who was out on a one game suspension after being ejected in the prior game against UTEP.
The Tigers committed 19 turnovers to ECU's 11, but dominated the glass 49-33 even though ECU got the better of it in the lane with 42 points in the paint to Memphis' 36.
Catch PI-TV's Chanellos PI Postgame with comments from Coaches Jeff Lebo and Josh Pastner along with postgame comments from Ty Armstrong and Miguel Paul.