GREENVILLE — East Carolina forced overtime with a length-of-the-court scoring play from Kentrell Barkley to B.J. Tyson with eight-tenths of a second remaining in regulation, but Tulane managed a 71-69 American Athletic Conference win in overtime Wednesday night in Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum.
Barkley inbounded from the far baseline with 2.0 seconds left, heaving a pass that Tyson managed to bank in as he was going to the floor beneath the basket to tie the score at 67.
ECU trailed by 13 points four times early in the second half before a 21-6 run provided a 57-55 lead on a 3-pointer by Shawn Williams with 7:36 to go.
Williams led ECU (8-13, 2-8) with 15 points. His hoop on a drive with 3:17 left in the extra period gave the Pirates their last lead at 69-67 and accounted for ECU’s only points in overtime.
Williams had a turnover with five seconds to go after the Pirates inbounded at their offensive end with eight seconds to play.
“He had a decent shot and that might have been the best opportunity we were going to get,” said interim coach Michael Perry of Williams’ position just beyond the arc on the right wing before an ill-fated pass. “He might have been a little too unselfish in that situation.”
Barkley had 12 points, 18 rebounds and four assists. Tyson finished with 12 points and four assists. Barkley and Tyson both played the full 45 minutes.
Isaac Fleming and K.J. Davis each contributed 10 points. Fleming had four steals. Justin Whatley had eight points.
Tulane (13-8, 4-5) was led by 22 points from Melvin Frazier. Cameron Reynolds added 16 points for the Green Wave and Jordan Cornish scored 10.
Frazier drove and scored what proved to be the winning basket with 40 seconds left in the extra period.
ECU continues league play at home against Memphis on Saturday at 2 p.m.
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