Greenville, NC (Sports Network) - Corvonn Gaines' only basket of the game was
the game-winning 3-pointer in the waning seconds of overtime to lift the East
Carolina Pirates to an 88-85 win over the UCF Knights in a Conference USA bout
at Minges Coliseum.
Ty Armstrong, Maurice Kemp, Shamarr Bowden, and Miguel Paul all scored 16
points for ECU (10-5, 1-1 C-USA), which has yet to lose consecutive games this
season. Robert Sampson chipped in his fifth double-double of the season with
11 points and 10 boards, and Paul dished out 11 assists.
The Pirates had to overcome a career-high 36 points from Keith Clanton, who
shot 15-of-19 from the floor as UCF (11-5, 1-1) lost for just the second time
in its last seven games. Tristan Spurlock was also productive in the loss
with 23 points and 11 boards.
ECU trailed early on but battled back to tie the score at 26-26 with 3:28
remaining in the first half. UCF closed out the frame on a 10-1 run to go into
intermission with a 36-27 lead.
UCF pushed its lead to 16 on a Spurlock dunk minutes into the second half, but
the Pirates made their move and took the lead, 76-74, with just under a minute
remaining on a pair of Kemp free throws. Clanton responded with a jumper with
17 seconds left in regulation to force overtime.
After a back and forth overtime period, Clanton converted a layup with 14
seconds remaining to tie the score at 85-85, but Gaines responded on the other
end with the game-winner for ECU.
ECU scored 21 points off of 16 UCF turnovers, while it committed just seven
turnovers itself.
GAME NOTES:
The Sports Network