GREENVILLE — Visiting South Carolina scored its last six points from the foul line over the final 37 seconds for a 68-62 nonconference win at East Carolina on Saturday.
The Pirates (6-4) had erased an 11-point deficit at 23-12 with 9:34 left in the first half to lead 60-59 with 1:41 to go on a jumper by Bobby Pettiford.
B.J. Mack knocked down a three to put the Gamecocks ahead, 62-60, at the 1:22 mark. A driving layup by Pettiford tied the score at 62 with 52 seconds remaining.
Mack’s free throw with 37 seconds left put USC ahead to stay.
ECU’s last four possessions ended with two turnovers and two missed shots.
“I thought we did a lot of good things,” said second-year coach Mike Shwartz on the Pirate radio network. “We held them below their season averages in terms of points, field goal percentage and 3-point percentage.”
The Pirates took the last meeting with the Gamecocks, 64-56, in Greenville, SC, on Dec 17, 2022, as R.J. Felton scored 21 points.
Felton led ECU offensively again with 15 points before a crowd of 5,568 in Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum. Pettiford and Ezra Ausar had 14 points each. Brandon Johnson scored 10 and led the Pirates in rebounding with eight.
South Carolina (8-1) was led by 15 points each from Meechie Johnson and Myles Stute. Mack had 13 points and eight rebounds.
ECU faces another Southeastern Conference opponent when it returns to action in the Florida Tip-Off on Thursday at 7 p.m. to take on Florida in Lakeland, FL (SEC Network).
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