East Carolina University
Charlotte
Richmond, East Carolina Put Away Charlotte, 75-68
February 27, 2014 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 27, 2014
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 75East Carolina |
 |  Highlights and Interviews Greenville, N.C. ? Attendance: 5,023 |  68 Charlotte |
GREENVILLE, N.C. --- Akeem Richmond sank eight 3-pointers to finish with 27 points, leading East Carolina past Charlotte 75-68 on Thursday night, winning its third straight game and concluding its home schedule with four consecutive victories.
The Pirates (16-13, 5-9 Conference USA) went 12 of 27 beyond the arc, including eight out of the hands of Richmond. Antonio Robinson finished with a career-high tying15 points and Caleb White added 14.
The game began with Richmond bookending a pair of 3s, while Paris Roberts-Campbell added one in between as East Carolina held a 9-2 lead the first media timeout. Four straight points by Robinson, back-to-backs 3s from Richmond and White and a basket from Michael Zangari completed a 15-0 run that pushed the Pirates out to a 21-2 lead in the first 9:39. Charlotte (14-13, 5-9) made just one of its first 11 shots and had eight turnovers in the first 11 minutes.
White hit his second 3 of the evening to give the Pirates a 24-6 lead, before the 49ers scored nine unanswered points to cut the ECU lead in half. Charlotte scored the final six points of the first half to make it an eight-point game at halftime, 32-24.
Charlotte got within five during the opening minutes of the second half before East Carolina went on a 14-5 run to extend its leads back to double digits, 48-34.
The 49ers then used a 16-2 run to tie the game at 50. However, ECU never relinquished the lead. The game was also tied at 52 and 54, but the Pirates were never on the wrong side of the scoreboard.
Richmond hit another 3-pointer over the outstretched arms of three Charlotte defenders to make it 64-60 with 3:53 remaining. Williams and Richmond then made two free throws apiece to make it a three possession game with 2:53 remaining. East Carolina finished 11 of 14 from the line in the final three minutes to seal it.
Pierria Henry, who led the 49ers with 20 points, made a 3 with 1:06 to play to cut the Pirates' advantage to five, 70-65. Robinson then made five straight free throws to give ECU a 10-point cushion with 18 seconds to play.
Charlotte shot 45.9 percent from the field to East Carolina's 42.9 percentage, but committed 16 turnovers.
