East Carolina University
SMU
Pirates Fend Off SMU, 80-74
January 24, 2009 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 24, 2009
Box Score | CBS College Highlights 
DALLAS --- East Carolina rallied from seven points down in the second half to beat SMU, 80-74, and end a three-game losing streak Saturday night at Moody Coliseum.
Freshman Darrius Morrow scored a career-high 21 points to lead five Pirates (10-8, 2-3 Conference USA) in double figures. Sophomore Brock Young added 16 points to go along with 11 assists for his fifth double-double of the year. Senior James Legan and sophomore Jamar Abrams dropped in 14 points each, while Sam Hinnant scored 12.
Bamba Fall and Paul McCoy scored 16 apiece to lead SMU (6-11, 1-4). Derek Williams added 14 points and Robert Nyakundi had 11.
The game was a seesaw affair that featured 10 ties and 12 lead changes.
The Pirates led 39-38 at the half, but soon watched its narrow lead disappear as a 3-pointer from Williams and lay-up from McCoy ignited a 16-7 run by the Mustangs to open a six-point cushion with 12:34 remaining.
With the Pirates trailing by seven, Abrams sank a three to cut the margin to four before Young made consecutive baskets to pull ECU within two at 66-64.
Legan then followed with a 3 to put the Pirates back in front, 67-66, and later drained another 3 with 2:48 left, giving ECU a 74-70 advantage.
Legan made 4-of-6 from behind the arc, while the Pirates drilled 10-of-20 attempts from 3-point range as a team. Abrams, Hinnant and Young each made two 3s apiece.
Hinnant and Young both sank a pair of foul shots in the final minute to preserve the Pirates' first C-USA road win of the season.
The Pirates return home Wednesday night to face 22nd-ranked Memphis at 7 p.m.
