GREENVILLE — Memphis pulled away for a 79-69 American Athletic Conference win at East Carolina on Wednesday night as Jeremiah Martin scored 31 points for the Tigers.
ECU freshman Jayden Gardner hit a free throw to give the Pirates a 61-60 lead with 8:11 remaining. Tyler Harris dropped a 9-foot jumper to put the Tigers ahead to stay at 62-61 with 7:41 to go.
Martin had 12 of his points as Memphis closed on a 19-8 run.
ECU got 15 points and 10 rebounds from Seth LeDay in slipping to 9-15 overall and 2-10 in the AAC. Shawn Williams had 14 points. Gardner totaled 13 points and five rebounds. K.J. Davis and Tyler Foster added 10 points each.
Martin made eight of 15 field goal attempts, including three of seven beyond the arc. He was 12 for 15 at the foul line.
Mike Parks Jr. had 12 points for the Tigers (15-10, 7-5), who got their second road win. Isaiah Maurice had seven rebounds and Alex Lomax had six assists for the visitors.
ECU had more rebounds (33-30) and fewer turnovers (12-13) than Memphis, which had topped the Pirates 78-72 at home on Jan. 10.
Senior point guard Isaac Fleming played just six minutes in the loss as he took an apparent blow to the head on the defensive end.
“He’s the one guy who can get to the rim on the dribble,” said Pirates coach Joe Dooley.
Fleming’s status was not known immediately for a Sunday home game at 2 p.m. against Tulsa (14-10, 4-7).
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