GREENVILLE — Visiting Central Connecticut State outshot and outrebounded East Carolina for its first win, 79-68, on Friday night.
The Blue Devils (1-3) made 30 of 52 attempts from the floor for 57.7 percent compared to 26 of 58 for 44.8 percent for the Pirates (1-2).
The visitors were six of 15 from beyond the arc for 40 percent while ECU was six for 21 from long range for 28.6 percent.
CCSU was 13 for 20 at the line for 65 percent and the Pirates were 10 of 16 for 62.5 percent.
Austin Nehls led the Blue Devils with 24 points, Tyler Kohl scored 20, Deion Bute netted 11 points and Mustafa Jones tallied 10.
Kentrell Barkley and B.J. Tyson had 19 points each for ECU. Dimitri Spasojevic had 13 points and seven rebounds.
Bute had 11 rebounds for CCS, which had a 36-26 lead on the boards.
The Pirates went ahead 39-37 early in the second half on a basket and free throw by Barkley. The Blue Devils got the go-ahead points on a three by Nehls with 18:07 left and maintained the upper hand the rest of the way.
Nehls dropped another 3-pointer with 2:03 to go to give the Blue Devils their biggest lead at 74-61.
Nehls was 5-for-9 from long distance.
Freshman Justin Whatley had nine points for ECU and Isaac Fleming scored six. Fleming and Barkley each had four assists.
The Pirates host Cleveland State on Monday at 7 p.m.
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