GREENVILLE — South Florida jumped in front, 11-0, and never trailed in a 71-60 American Athletic Conference win at East Carolina on Wednesday night.
The Bulls made 10 of 25 from beyond the arc (40 percent) in improving to 14-5 overall and 7-1 in league play.
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“That’s a really good South Florida team,” said ECU coach Mike Schwartz on the Pirate radio network. “There’s a reason they’re 7-1. … They hit the 3-point shot and we didn’t guard it well.”
After ECU had pulled within 22-20, USF went on a 13-0 run to expand the margin to 35-20. The visitors led, 40-28, at halftime.
The Pirates (11-11, 4-5 AAC) got within 50-45 with 10:35 remaining on a 3-point play by Ezra Ausar, but that prompted a 12-0 spree by the Bulls.
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USF was paced by 20 points and six assists from Chris Youngblood, who made four of seven of his 3-point tries.
Kasean Pryor and Selton Miguel added 14 points each in the win.
ECU was led by Cam Hayes with 14 points although he was 0-for-6 on threes. R.J. Felton had 13 points and five rebounds.
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Ausar and Bobby Pettiford Jr. each had seven points for the Pirates. Pettiford had four assists. Brandon Johnson had six points and six rebounds.
ECU visits Charlotte (13-7, 7-1) on Saturday for a 2 p.m. tipoff (ESPNU).
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