C-USA Tourney Update: ECU Defeats UCF; Game Marred By Fight
The first game of the C-USA men’s basketball tournament turned into a real battle during the first half.
East Carolina won is its first-ever C-USA Tournament victory. The win assures the Pirates of their first winning season since 1996-97. East Carolina defeated UCF, 75-60. ECU’s Darrius Morrow had 18 points and 12 rebounds. Pirates made 10-of-17 three-point field goals
Before the end of the first half a fight broke out between the teams.
UCF player David Diakite was ejected from the game for his part in the fight.
In the day’s second game,Southern Miss beat Tulane 63-47. Gary Flowers’ ninth double-double of the season led Southern Mississippi past Tulane 63-47 on Wednesday in the first round of the Conference USA tournament.
Flowers had 18 points and 11 rebounds for the fifth-seeded Golden Eagles (22-9), who will face fourth-seeded Memphis (22-9) in the quarterfinals Thursday. The senior forward reached double figures for the 27th consecutive game.
LaShay Page added 12 points and Josimar Ayarza 10 for Southern Miss, which shot 46.8 percent while limiting Tulane to 34.0.
The 12th-seeded Green Wave (13-17) got 16 points from Kris Richard and 15 from Kendall Timmons. Richard hit four 3-pointers.
Trailing 5-4, Southern Miss reeled off the next 10 points, ending with a basket by Ayarza that made it 14-5 with 14:51 left in the first half. The Golden Eagles held the Green Wave scoreless for the final 5:09 and led 35-18 at halftime.
The second-half lead peaked at 22.
Look for more C-USA updates throughout the day on kvia.com.
