East Carolina University
SMU
Richmond Leads The Pirates' Comeback Over SMU
February 23, 2013 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 23, 2013
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 72East Carolina |
Game Report Moody Coliseum ? Dallas, Texas ? Attendance: 3,642 |  69 SMU |
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DALLAS -- Akeem Richmond came off the bench to score a career-high 29 points, leading East Carolina to a 72-69 victory over SMU on Saturday. Richmond buried an ECU record nine 3-pointers to help the Pirates (16-10, 7-6) overcome a 17-point deficit.
Since scoring 0 and 6 points in a pair of games earlier this month, Richmond has averaged 21.5 points in his last four games, which have resulted in three wins and an overtime loss for the Pirates.
Miguel Paul and Paris Roberts- Campbell each added 11 points for East Carolina, and Robert Sampson had 11 rebounds.
Jalen Jones and Ryan Manuel scored 18 points apiece for SMU (13-14, 3-9). Jones also had 11 rebounds. Nick Russell added 16 points and a career-high nine assists.
The Pirates struggled out of the gates, missing their first 10 shots before Ty Armstrong converted a layup 6:31 into the game. Despite its early struggles, ECU managed to stay close as the Mustangs only led by two, 10-8, with 11 minutes remaining in the half.
SMU then scored 10 unanswered to build an 18-8 lead. Following a 3-pointer from Richmond, SMU scored another 10 straight points accumulating in an 18-3 run over a 6:46 span to lead 28-11 with 4:05 to go before halftime.
Campbell then started a half-ending 10-4 run with his first of three 3-pointers. Maurice Kemp, who was held under double figures for the second time in three games, scored his first points of the game on a breakaway dunk during the run as the Pirates pulled within 11 at halftime, 32-21.
The second half began with Roberts-Campbell hitting a three in front of the Pirate bench as ECU methodically began to trim its deficit.
With 14:02 to play, Richmond simply took over the game, scoring 21 of the Pirates' next 23 points, making six consecutive 3-pointers.
He made two in nine seconds, bringing ECU from down five to up one, 46-45, and followed with another to give his team a four-point cushion.
The Mustangs regained the lead and stretched it out to four as clock dipped under two minutes, but Paul scored five straight points, sinking the go-ahead 3 with 1:25 to play for a 63-62 lead. Campbell then made his final 3 of the night to make it a two possession game.
The Mustangs pulled within 70-69 when Russell scored on a dunk with 13 seconds left, Manual made a steal and Russell scored again on a 3-pointer.
Kemp hit two free throws with 8 seconds left for East Carolina before SMU missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
