WICHITA, KS — Wichita State used a 20-12 closing spree for a 70-62 American Athletic Conference win over visiting East Carolina on Saturday.
The Pirates trailed 28-12 with six minutes left in the first half but came back to take their first lead at 39-36 on a 3-pointer by Tristen Newton with 15:01 to go.
The hosts went ahead to stay when Craig Porter Jr. scored on a driving layup for a 52-50 lead with 7:09 remaining.
Wichita State used a 10-0 run for a 66-55 advantage with 1:11 left.
Newton led ECU (15-14, 6-11 AAC) with 16 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and two steals.
The Pirates were without Brandon Suggs as a result of a 1-game suspension for his involvement in a scuffle at the conclusion of a 64-59 home win over Tulsa on Feb. 26. Suggs is ECU’s third leading scorer at 10.3 points per game.
Vance Jackson had 10 points and six rebounds for the Pirates. R.J. Felton scored nine. Alanzo Frink and Javon Small added eight points each.
The Shockers (15-12, 6-9) were paced by 20 points and seven rebounds from Ricky Council IV. Porter had 15 points and 10 rebounds.
The Pirates will be the No. 9 seed for the AAC Tournament in Fort Worth and will take on eighth-seeded Cincinnati on Thursday at noon.
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