USF Breaks Away From ECU In The Second Half

Saturday, January 26

Greenville, NC

4 PM

East Carolina University

8-11, 1-6

USF

14-6, 4-4

USF

ECU

Photo by: Rob Goldberg

January 26, 2019 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Postgame Press Conference Photo Gallery

From wire and staff reports

GREENVILLE, N.C. --- Alexis Yetna scored a career-high 28 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to lead USF to a 77-57 win over ECU inside Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum Saturday.

Justin Brown had 14 points, Laquincy Rideau scored 14 and dished out 10 assists for the Bulls (14-6, 4-4 American), who have their most wins in a season since the 2011-12 campaign.

Jayden Gardner posted his eighth double-double with 15 points and 15 rebounds for the Pirates (8-11, 1-6), who dropped their fifth straight. Shawn Williams scored 12 points, while Dimitrije Spasojevic reached double digit points for the first time this season and finished with 10 points.

The Pirates rushed out to an 19-6 lead in the opening eight minutes, making 9-of-13 shots to start the game with Gardner scoring eight points and Spasojevic adding six during the run. The Bulls then ran off 11 straight to pull within two before ECU answered with an 8-0 to lead by 10 with 7:33 left until halftime.

Brown made three consecutive 3-pointers and Rideau capped another 11-0 USF run to give the Bulls their first lead of game, 28-27. Four lead changes ensued over the final 3:34 before Brown gave USF a 36-34 halftime lead with his fourth 3 of the half.

The Pirates took a 41-40 lead on Spasojevic's jumper with 17:10 remaining.

Yetna then went ballistic with a 3-pointer, 3-point play, a dunk, a layup and made 1 of 2 foul shots and the Bulls were up 54-43.Williams responded with a 3 for the Pirates before Yetna added another layup and USF lead by double digits the rest of the way. Yetna finished 11-of-13 shooting and scored 15 points in a little more than six minutes.

"We had good energy and we got off to good start," ECU Head Coach Joe Dooley said. "We've got to learn how to sustain that for a longer stretch.

"From the start of the second half, USF dominated every aspect of the game. I'm very disappointed in the way we competed at the end, which for the most I think we have had this year. That was a major step back. My big thing is don't talk tough, play tough, and we didn't play tough today at all."

The Pirates shot 50 percent from the field in the first half, but were to just 29.6 percent shooting after halftime and finished the game at 39.6 percent overall. USF finished at 44.6 percent from the field and made 7-of-19 (.368) outside the arc, compared to just 5-of-21 (.236) by ECU.

USF forced 16 ECU turnovers and scored 17 points off Pirate miscues, while committing just six themselves. The Bulls also out-rebounded the Pirates by nine, 41-32, and scored 17 points off 16 offensive rebounds.

The Pirates return to action Thursday, Jan. 31, against Tulane. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. inside Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum