East Carolina University
Memphis
Pirates Take Down Memphis 84-83
January 24, 2016 | Men's Basketball
From wire and staff reports
MEMPHIS, Tenn. --- Prince Williams made two free throws with 4.1 seconds to play to give East Carolina an 84-83 win over Memphis at the FedExForum Sunday for its first American Athletic Conference win of the season and its first-ever road victory against the Tigers.
B.J. Tyson drained a career-high six 3-pointers and matched his career best of 26 points to lead East Carolina (9-11, 1-6 The American) after suffering a sprained left shoulder just five days ago. He also added six rebounds and four assists, while playing all 40 minutes. Williams scored a season-high 20 points and dished a career-best 10 assists for his first career double-double to help the Pirates end a six-game losing streak and pick up their first road win of the season.
Freshman Kentrell Barkley, who made his first career start, scored 15 points to go along with four rebounds, four assists and two steals in 39 minutes. Michael Zangari added 11 points off the bench, making two huge 3-pointers in the game's final six minutes.
East Carolina shot 61.5 percent from the floor in the first half, making 16 of 26 shots, including 6 of 8 3-pointers, scoring eight fast break points and 15 points off 10 Memphis (12-7, 3-3) miscues. The Pirates finished at 48.2 percent overall with 25 points off turnovers and 14 in transition.
There were eight lead changes through the first 12 minutes before Michel Nzege's stick-back with 7:44 to play put the Pirates ahead for the remainder of the half.
Williams' 3 just before the halftime buzzer sent East Carolina into the locker room with a 45-36 lead.
The lead grew to 14 points at the outset of the second half, but Memphis erased the deficit and outscored East Carolina 38-23 over about 13 minutes to grab a 74-73 lead after six unanswered points from Dedric Lawson, who scored 27 points on 11-for-15 shooting.
The final six minutes saw five lead changes and three ties before Williams made the game-winning foul shots. After a timeout, Memphis missed a desperation 3-point shot as Sam Craft's heave hit off the side of the rim.
Memphis, which entered the contest averaging 21 made free throws per game, went to the foul line only 15 times, while ECU cashed in on 19 of 27 (.704) opportunities.
The Pirates finished with 22 assists on 27 made field goals and made 11 of 21 (.524) 3-pointers without the services of their top long distance shooter, Caleb White, who didn't travel due to an injury suffered earlier in the week
Memphis made just 5 of 20 outside the arc, but scored 52 in the paint. Shaq Goodwin dropped in 15 and grabbed 12 rebounds for the Tigers. Trashon Burrell finished an assist shy of a triple-double with 13 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists.
