GREENVILLE — Craig Porter Jr. scored 20 points with eight rebounds and four assists for Wichita State in an 85-72 American Athletic Conference win over East Carolina on Sunday in Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum.
The Pirates, who slipped to 11-11 overall and 2-7 in the AAC, had taken a 79-69 road win over the Shockers on Dec. 31, but ECU never led ln the rematch.
“It started right from the jump,” said Pirates coach Mike Schartz on the Pirate radio network. “We got beat every which way. … Until the last eight minutes of the game, we got out-toughed.”
Wichita State (11-10, 4-5) made 29 of 57 field goal attempts for 50.9 percent. ECU hit 25 of 67 shots for 37.3 percent.
R.J. Felton had 22 points for the Pirates. Benjamin Bayela hit six of eight beyond the arc for 18 points. Quentin Diboundje had 12 points.
Ludgy Debaut had nine rebounds for ECU. Felton and Diboundje each had three assists.
James Rojas finished with 19 points, seven rebounds, four assists and four steals for Wichita State. Jaykwon Walton added 13 points and seven rebounds. Kenny Pohto had 10 points.
The biggest lead for the visitors was 27 points at 77-50 with 6:45 remaining.
A 10-0 run that started and ended with threes from Bayela helped the Pirates close the gap in the late stages.
ECU returns to action Wednesday at 7 p.m. at South Florida (9-13, 2-7), which was edged, 82-80, at Southern Methodist on Sunday.
The Bulls won, 81-70, over the Pirates in Greenville on Jan. 15. The matchup in Tampa is scheduled to be shown on ESPNU.
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