BOCA RATON — Host Florida Atlantic expanded its lead in the closing stages against East Carolina in the American Athletic Conference opener for both clubs to take a 79-64 win on Tuesday night.
The Pirates (7-7) led the No. 17 Owls, a Final Four team last year, 23-15, with just under 10 minutes left in the first half.
FAU (11-3) was on top, 63-61, when Quentin Diboundje turned his left ankle with 5:42 to go. The Owls went on a decisive 14-0 run after Diboundje went out.
“We executed the game plan for 35 minutes,” said ECU coach Mike Schwartz on the Pirate radio network. “It’s a high level game in the center of the ring. We controlled the tempo to the extent that it gave us a shot to be there. … It disrupted what they were trying to do.
“The last five minutes, they showed why they’re the team that they are. You could feel the explosiveness. You could feel the speed.”
Brandon Johnson paced ECU with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Diboundje had 13 points in 23 minutes. R.J. Felton added 12 points and five rebounds.
Bobby Pettiford had eight points for ECU and Azra Ausar scored seven.
Johnell Davis and Alijah Martin each had 20 points for FAU.
The Pirates made 13 of 24 field goal attempts in the first half for 54.2 percent, including four of seven from beyond the arc (57.1 percent).
In the last 20 minutes, ECU was limited to 11 of 31 from the field (35.5 percent and two of eight on threes (25 percent).
Free throw shooting also cooled off as the Pirates were four of eight in the second half for 50 percent after going six of eight (75 percent) prior to intermission.
ECU had one more turnover (10-9) and the Pirates accumulated three fewer rebounds (32-35).
ECU will host Tulsa in its next AAC action on Sunday at 3 p.m. (ESPNU). The Golden Hurricane is 9-3 going into its league opener at home against No. 15 Memphis (11-2) on Thursday at 8 p.m.
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