ECU's Season Ends Against Wichita State

Thursday, March 14

Memphis, TN

10 PM

East Carolina University

10-21

Wichita State

18-13

ECU

Wichita State

Photo by: American Athletic Conference

March 15, 2019 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

From wire and staff reports

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Markis McDuffie scored 15 points to lead No. 6 seed Wichita State to a 73-57 win over No. 11 ECU in the first round of The 2019 Air Force Reserve American Basketball Championship at the FedExForum on Thursday night.

The Shockers (18-13) advanced to face No. 3 seed Temple in the quarterfinals Friday, while the the Pirates' season came to an end.

Jaime Echenique had 14 points and nine rebounds for Wichita State. Dexter Dennis added 13 points and Asbjorn Midtgaard had 10 points. Rod Brown also grabbed nine rebounds.

ECU (10-21) trailed by four with 5:29 left in the first half when McDuffie was fouled shooting a 3-pointer. McDuffie made all three free throws, igniting a 15-7 run to close the period and give Wichita State a 39-27 halftime lead.

McDuffie was 5 of 5 at the free throw line in the first half and finished 11 of 12 overall from the charity stripe.

ECU turned the ball over 10 times before halftime and the Shockers scored 11 points off those miscues.

Wichita State extended its lead to 26 in the first seven minutes of the second half and didn't let its advantage slip under 20 until the final three minutes.

Jayden Gardner had 16 points for the Pirates to become the first freshman in school history and third in conference history to score 500 points in a season. Shawn Williams added 12 points and senior Isaac Fleming scored 12 points, dished out seven assists and grabbed five rebounds in his final game.

ECU senior Justice Obasohan had three points and three rebounds in his final game, while fellow senior Addison Hill was credited with one steal in his last game donning the purple and gold.