East Carolina University
UNC Greensboro
Late Free Throws Complete Comeback Win Over UNCG
November 12, 2013 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 12, 2013
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 85East Carolina |
Greensboro, N.C. ? Attendance: 3,217 |  84 UNCG |
From staff and wire reports
GREENSBORO, N.C. - East Carolina snatched victory from the jaws of defeat Tuesday night, but barely.
Akeem Richmond sank three free throws with 1.2 seconds left and the Pirates (2-0) escaped with an 85-84 nail-biting victory over UNCG at the Greensboro Coliseum. ECU trailed by 15 points in the first half, but was sparked by Richmond, who scored 16 of his team-high 19 points after halftime.
"It was no pressure for me," said Richmond, who finished with 19 points. "I play with a lot of confidence. I was telling my teammates that I was going to make these three free throws; we're going to win the game and get back to Greenville. I'm ecstatic that I made them."
Drew Parker's desperation heave at the buzzer missed to give East Carolina its seventh-straight win over UNCG --- and it's most unlikely. The Pirates, who trailed by 15 in the first half, were down six with 1:05 to play and chipped back into the deficit with a Brandan Stith dunk and three free throws by Prince Williams to pull the Pirates within two.
Following a Kyle Cain layup, Caleb White was fouled corralling an offensive rebound and hit both free throws with 12 seconds left. Richmond stole the ball on the ensuing play and was fouled on a three-point attempt. He had to wait a few moments to get to the charity stripe while the officials reset the clock from 0.3 to 1.2 seconds.
"All we did at that point was huddle up and instruct our guys on what we were going to do after Akeem makes these three," ECU Head Coach Jeff Lebo said. "We didn't talk to him. He's a senior. He's been there before. He stepped up there with confidence."
The Pirates fell behind 10-0 in the first three minutes and were down 31-16 12:58 into the contest. However, ECU used a quick 9-0 spurt to get back within six with 5:10 remaining in the half. Tyrone Outlaw made a pair of free throws with 34 seconds before halftime to build UNCG's lead back to double figures for a 10-point halftime lead.
In the first half, ECU shot a dismal 28.1 percent from the floor, but the in the second found its stroke connecting on 51.4 percent.
The Pirates opened the second half with a 23-11 run capped off by a three point play by Richmond to his team its first lead of the game at 53-51 with 12:00 remaining. The hold on the lead was brief was UNCG scored 10 of the game's next 12 points, eventually pushing its advantage back out to seven points.
Paris Roberts-Campbell was one of four additional Pirates to score double figures finishing with 16 points. White added 13, including 11 in the first half, for the second straight game with Guilmette and Stith adding 10 each.
"I just wanted to be aggressive," said Roberts-Campbell, who was 4-of-8 inside the arc and just 1-of-5 outside it. "My shots weren't really falling in the beginning, so I just decided to attack the basket and bring energy defensively." He also came up with two blocks and two steals, while distributing a team-high three assists.
Tevon Saddler poured in a game-high 34 points for the Spartans on 10-of-15 shooting from the floor and 14-of-19 at the free throw line. Kyle Cain and Nicholas Paulos scored 16 points each.
ECU returns home Thursday, Nov. 14, to take on Chowan. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. inside Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum.
