Second Half Surge Pushes ECU Past Temple

Wednesday, February 15

Greenville, N.C.

7 p.m.

East Carolina University

12-14,4-9AAC

Temple

14-13,5-9AAC

Temple

East Carolina

Photo by: Rob Goldberg

February 15, 2017 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score Photo Gallery

RECAP
GREENVILLE, N.C. -- Caleb White scored 17, including three 3-pointers, Kentrell Barkley had his eighth double-double of the season, and East Carolina pulled away in the second half for a 78-64 win over Temple on Wednesday night.

Barkley finished with 19 points, a season-high 13 rebounds, four assists and two steals, Andre Washington scored 15 points and Michel Nzege added 11 with eight rebounds -- both season bests -- for East Carolina (12-14, 4-9 American Athletic Conference). White, who hit 7 of 12 shots, moved into sixth on ECU's career list with 506 made field goals and is tied with Tony Parham (1995-98) for first with 109 career starts.

White made a layup and then a 3-pointer to cap an 11-3 run that put the Pirates up 57-49 with 10:31 to play and Nzege scored six straight points to close an 8-0 spurt that pushed the lead to 17 nearly six minutes later. Temple missed eight shots in a row early in the second half and then hit just one during another eight-plus minute stretch as ECU pulled away.

Mark Williams had 15 points, Quinton Rose scored 14 and Daniel Dingle 12 for Temple (14-13, 5-9).

TURNING POINT
East Carolina held a 50-49 lead with 13:20 to play and went on a 19-3 run over an eight minute span to take a 17-point lead with 4:36 remaining. The Pirates scored seven unanswered to go ahead 57-50 before a Quntion Rose free throw interrupted the run. Following layup by Barkley and a jumper from Temple's Shizz Alston, Nzege scored eight of the Pirates' next 10 points, which included a follow dunk that brought the crowd to its feet.

ECU PLAYER-OF-THE-GAME
Barkley recorded his third straight double-double and fifth in the last six games with 19 points and 13 rebounds coming off the bench for the first time this season. He had 13 points and eight rebounds in the second half. He knocked down a trio of 3-pointers for the second time in three games. Barkley finished 6-of-15 from the field, 3-of-6 outside the arc and 4-of-4 at the free throw line, while handing out four assists and collecting two steals.

TEMPLE PLAYER-OF-THE-GAME
Mark Williams led the Owls with 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting, including 2-of-5 from 3, in only 20 minutes of action off the bench. He also distributed a team-best three assists.

GAME NOTES
ECU matched its overall season (12) and conference win (4) totals from a year ago … ECU's 78 points were a conference season-high … The Pirates won their first game of the season when trailing at halftime (1-13) … ECU improved to 2-4 all-time against Temple, defeating the Owls at home for the second consecutive season ...East Carolina outscored Temple in the paint 24-10 in the second half … The Pirates forced Temple into eight second half turnovers after forcing only one in the first half … The Pirates improved to 3-0 at home under Acting Head Coach Michael Perry and 3-4 overall … Washington's 15 points were a conference season-high … ECU used its seventh different starting lineup of the season as Barkley wasn't in the starting five for the first time this season … White scored in double figures for a third consecutive game for the first time since scoring double digits in each of the final three non-conference games … B.J. Tyson entered the game with 4:30 left in the opening half to make his first appearance since sustaining an injury against Houston Jan. 11 … Tyson finished with three points, three rebounds and four assists in 13 minutes.

QUOTE-OF-THE-NIGHT
"In this league, you can't take anyone for granted. It doesn't matter what somebody's record looks like, everybody is good. I feel like we went down to USF feeling like we had already won the [game]. I think that's a good thing that we lost, that was a little slap in our face to wake us up and to let us know that you know, we are a pretty good basketball team, regardless of what our record says, but we still got to work hard every day like every other team in this league. That's why it was important to come home and take care of business and show that we can win against some good teams because Temple team is a good team. We had to come here and prove to some people that we can be competitive in this conference." - ECU senior forward Michel Nzege

NEXT GAME
The Pirates will return to action Saturday, Feb. 18, against UCF inside Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum. Tip-off is slated for 4 p.m.