HOUSTON — Rice ended a 3-game American Athletic Conference winning streak for East Carolina with a 70-52 victory Saturday.
ECU (14-13, 7-7 AAC) trailed by a scant 29-27 margin at the half, but Travis Evee scored 24 of his 34 points in the second half as the Owls (11-16, 5-9) pulled away.
Evee finished 12 of 19 from the field, including seven of 12 from beyond the arc and three of four at the free throw line.
The Pirates pulled even at 29 just 12 seconds into the second half on a lay-up by R.J. Felton, who paced ECU with 15 points, the only Pirate to reach double figure scoring.
Rice went ahead to stay at 31-29 on a pair of free throws by Evee with 19:22 remaining.
ECU was limited to eight of 27 field goal shooting over the final 20 minutes, 29.6 percent.
‘Brandon Johnson struggled offensively in the setback, going three for 14 from the floor and 0 for six on threes. He had six points and led the Pirates in rebounding with seven.
Jaden Walker had seven points and six rebounds. Ezra Ausar had six points and Cam Hayes scored five.
Rice got 14 points from Keanu Davis and 10 from Mekhi Mason.
ECU was outrebounded, 38-30, but had fewer turnovers, 9-10.
The Pirates will be at home to take on Memphis on Thursday at 7 p.m. (ESPN2). The Tigers are 19-8 overall and 8-6 in the AAC going into a league matchup with Florida Atlantic on Sunday at 2 p.m.
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