DALLAS — Southern Methodist outshot East Carolina for an 86-61 American Athletic Conference win Sunday at Moody Coliseum.
The Mustangs were coming off a 63-52 loss at Connecticut on Thursday night in which they made just 28.1 percent of their field goal attempts.
“I didn’t think they would have two bad shooting games in a row,” said interim Pirates coach Michael Perry.
SMU made 17 of 28 (60.7 percent) shots from the field in the first half in building a 44-33 lead. ECU stayed in range by making 13 of 24 for 54.2 percent in the first 20 minutes but the Mustangs closed with a 7-0 run and then started the second half with an 11-3 flurry to take control.
SMU was even hotter in the final period, hitting 17 of 27 from the floor for 63 percent.
The Pirates made 11 of 32 in the second half, 34.4 percent.
The Mustangs finished 11 of 20 beyond the arc for 55 percent in improving to 15-7 overall and 5-4 in the AAC. SMU is 13-1 at home.
Kentrell Barkley played just nine minutes for ECU (8-12, 2-7) before exiting with a possible concussion. Post player Jabari Craig and forward Justice Obasohan missed the game with foot injuries and are expected to be out for multiple games.
Barkley is averaging 11.7 points and 6.5 rebounds. He had five points Sunday.
Isaac Fleming had 17 points and Shawn Williams added 14 for the Pirates. Justin Whatley came off the bench with some effective inside play that provided eight points in 13 minutes.
B.J. Tyson, the team’s top scorer at 14.5 points per game, was limited to seven points, but had seven assists. Fleming had five assists, but made seven of ECU’s 13 turnovers.
Reserve K.J. Davis led the Pirates on the boards with five rebounds in 17 minutes.
Jahmal McMurray and Jimmy Whitt led SMU with 20 points each.
ECU is home to play Tulane (12-8, 3-5) on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. The Green Wave is coming off an 80-75 home loss to South Florida (8-14, 1-8) on Thursday night.
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