GREENVILLE — East Carolina rallied from a 23-4 deficit to improve to 2-0 under first-year coach Michael Schwartz with a 77-57 win over Presbyterian in Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum on Saturday.
R.J. Felton scored 20 of his game-high 23 points for the Pirates in the second half as ECU outscored the Blue Hose, 51-26, after intermission.
The Pirates came from 16 points down to top Mercer, 77-75, in the season opener on Tuesday night.
“We’re going to do everything we can to get off to better starts,” Schwartz said. “Really, really proud of how the guys responded.”
From the 19-point deficit with 9:37 left in the first half, ECU closed within 32-26 at the break.
The Pirates went ahead to stay at 46-45 on a steal and layup by sophomore guard Javon Small with 12:38 left to play.
Small had 16 points, seven assists and five rebounds. Freshman guard Kalib LaCount, who stands 5 feet, 8 inches, also had 16 points.
ECU finished the game on a 31-8 run.
Benjamin Bayela had seven rebounds for the Pirates, who led 41-36 on the boards. ECU made 23 of 55 field goal attempts (41.8 percent), including 11 of 28 from beyond the arc (39.3 percent). The Pirates made 20 of 27 free throws for 74.1 percent.
Quinton Diboundje had nine points in the win. Terrell Ard Jr. led the Blue Hose (1-2) with 13 points.
ECU hosts Hampton on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
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