UTEP builds lead, holds off ECU

Pirates await word on potential postseason bid

By Al Myatt
©2014 Bonesville.net
All rights reserved.

EL PASO, TX — East Carolina tried to pull off another comeback in its second game of the 2014 Conference USA Tournament in the Don Haskins Center against host Texas-El Paso on Wednesday night.

The Pirates rallied from an 18-point deficit to defeat Texas-San Antonio 79-76 on Tuesday night and fell behind the host Miners by 23 points early in the second half.

ECU (17-16) fought back in its second round contest before falling, 77-68.

Julian Washburn, the son of former N.C. State post player Chris Washburn, led UTEP (23-9) with 20 points.

Scoring 14 points each for the Pirates were Akeem Richmond, Paris Roberts-Campbell and Prince Williams. Freshman Caleb White added 13 points.

Williams had five assists and Antonio Robinson had four.

UTEP's 37-30 rebounding advantage was much closer than a Feb. 6 meeting in Greenville when the Miners won the game 58-47 and the board battle, 42-17.

ECU still struggled with a size disadvantage as UTEP made 29 of 56 field goal attempts for 51.8 percent. The Miners had a 40-16 command on points in the paint.

The Pirates compensated to a degree by dropping 12 of 24 beyond the arc for 50 percent.

ECU will find out if it will receive a bid to a postseason event over the weekend. The Pirates are the defending champions of the CollegeInsider.com Tournament.

PAGE UPDATED 03/13/14 02:36 AM.

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