SMU Pulls Away From ECU Quickly

Wednesday, February 1

Dallas, Texas

9:30 p.m.

East Carolina University

10-13, 2-8AAC

SMU

19-4, 9-1AAC

Team	1	2	F
East Carolina	20	26	46
SMU	49	37	86

Photo by: Rob Goldberg

February 02, 2017 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score

RESULT
Four players scored in double figures to lead SMU to decisive 86-46 win over East Carolina at Moody Coliseum Wednesday night. Shake Milton and Semi Ojeleye each scored 19 points for the Mustangs, who won their fifth straight game overall and 18^th straight at home. ECU trailed 49-20 at halftime after SMU shot 55.2 percent (16-29) from the floor in the first half compared to 28.6 percent (8-28) by the Pirates. The Mustangs finished the game shooting 49.2 percent (32-65) and Pirates finished at 30.6 percent (15-49). SMU won the battle of the boards, 40-31.

TURNING POINT
After starting the game 1-of-8 from the field, SMU made nine of its next 10 shots, including 4-of-5 3-point attempts, as part of a 30-8 run that put the Mustangs ahead 33-11. The Pirates started the game just 4-of-15 with seven turnovers in the first 13 minutes. Five players scored for SMU during the run, including Milton and Ojeleye, who each had double figures.

EAST CAROLINA PLAYER-OF-THE-GAME
Sophomore Kentrell Barkley was the only Pirate to score double figures, finishing with 12 points on 4-of-11 shooting. It was the fourth straight game in which he led ECU in scoring and ninth time in the last 11 contests. He also grabbed six rebounds.

SMU PLAYER-OF-THE-GAME
Shake Milton scored 19 points, with 17 in the first half, on 7-of-9 shooting from the field, burying 3-of-5 3-point attempts. Milton scored eight consecutive in a span of 1:55 in the first half, giving the Mustangs their first double digit lead inside of 13 minutes remaining until halftime.

GAME NOTES
The 43^rd President of the United States George W. Bush was in attendance … ECU yielded a season-high 86 points, 49 first half points, 13 steals and 25 points off turnovers … Redshirt freshman Deng Riak scored a career-best nine points ... Andre Washington didn't block a shot for the first time in conference play this season … ECU was credited with 13 assists on 15 made field goals ... The Pirates lost their two games against SMU this season by a combined 71 points … Junior B.J. Tyson missed his fifth straight game due to injury … ECU Head Coach Jeff Lebo missed his fourth game following hip surgery.

QUOTE OF THE NIGHT
"I surely didn't see this on coming after two good days of practice and at shoot around [this morning], which is as good as I've seen in years. We were clicking on all cylinders, shooting the ball well, high energy and I thought we would have a really good performance tonight. Obviously we didn't. We came out and got a little bit unglued and out of character. A team like this can do that to you." - ECU Acting Head Coach Michael Perry

NEXT GAME
East Carolina returns to action Saturday, Feb. 4, at home against Tulane. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. inside Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum.