East Carolina University
9-12,2-6AAC
Cincinnati
15-6,6-3AAC
East Carolina Rallies to Beat Cincinnati, 50-46
February 01, 2015 | Men's Basketball
Game Report 
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Game Highlights
From wire and staff reports
GREENVILLE, N.C. -- Freshman B.J. Tyson scored 18 points and East Carolina came back from a nine-point second-half deficit to beat Cincinnati 50-46 on Sunday, earning the Pirates' first win over Bearcats in nine tries.
The Pirates trailed 46-39 with 3:23 left but scored the last 11 points of the game as the Bearcats missed their last four shots.
"I like the resilience of the group," ECU Head Coach Jeff Lebo said. "We were down [9] in the second half. We haven't finished out games like we like but this one we did. The kids found a way and I'm really happy for them.
"They've stayed together and there's nothing harder I think as a coach than trying to keep them together when they've lost and we've lost some close games."
Scoring was at a premium in the first half, as both teams had just one basket over the first 4:50. Once they got warmed up, Cincinnati made five shots in a row and led 15-8 at the midway mark, then scored the last six points of the half to lead 23-18 at the break.
The Bearcats extended their lead to nine, 29-20, less than two minutes into the second half and Lebo elected to call timeout. Ten 10 minutes after ECU called the timeout, it's deficit was still nine, 42-33, with 8:15 remaining and unable to get the margin inside of two possessions.
Tyson's jumper with 3:05 to play finally got the Pirates within two possessions. Marshall Guilmette then converted an old-fashioned 3-point play to bring ECU within two for the time since it was 19-18.
Antonio Robinson collected his fourth of five steals on the ensuing possession and pitched ahead to Terry Whisnant who finished the reverse layup for the lead. Robinson stole the ball again on the next possession and Tyson was there to complete the play and give ECU a 48-46 lead with 1:02 to play.
Robinson, while he didn't score a point, was a significant factor finishing with four assists and five steals against one turnover.
"He was terrific," Lebo said. "He didn't score a point in the game, but we had to have him in there at the end defensively. Octavius Ellis recorded his first career Division I double-double with 14 points and a career-high 14 rebounds for Cincinnati (15-6, 6-3). Ellis was 5 of 6 from the floor and 4 of 4 at the line.
A month ago, the Bearcats hammered the Pirates in the paint 40-12. Today it was ECU that won the battle, 26-20.
