DALLAS — Southern Methodist survived East Carolina’s efforts to end a 3-game losing streak with a come-from-behind 80-77 American Athletic Conference win in overtime on Wednesday night.
The Mustangs (20-10, 11-6 AAC), who had also dropped three straight, trailed by as many as 11 points in the first half. They pulled even at 65 on a 3-pointer by Zhuric Phelps with five seconds left in regulation.
R.J. Felton, who led ECU (14-16, 7-10) with 28 points, lost the handle in the frontcourt before the regulation buzzer.
The hosts scored first in the extra period and never trailed in the additional five minutes.
SMU got a win on its Senior Night despite being significantly outshot. The Pirates made 26 of 59 from the field for 44.1 percent while the Ponies were 24 for 73 for 32.9 percent.
ECU coach Mike Shwartz cited his team’s turnovers (17) and SMU’s offensive rebounding (21) as factors which offset the Pirates’ more accurate shooting.
The Mustangs were eight of 37 on field goal attempts in the first 20 minutes, 21.6 percent.
“We couldn’t throw a rock in the ocean in the first half,” said SMU senior Samuell Williamson, who had 13 rebounds.
The Mustangs won the board battle, 47-44, while committing 10 turnovers.
Phelps was two for 16 from the floor and had missed all seven of his tries from beyond the arc before hitting the three that brought on overtime. He made all 10 from the line for 15 points.
Chuck Harris led the win with 16 points and Ricardo Wright added 10.
Brandon Johnson had 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Pirates. Freshman big man Cyr Malonga contributed nine points and 10 rebounds in 34 minutes.
Jaden Walker and Bobby Pettiford Jr. each had nine points in the setback. Kalib LaCount tallied six.
ECU has its own Senior Night on Saturday at 4 p.m. against Charlotte (18-11, 12-5), which topped visiting Rice, 69-64, on Wednesday night.
The 49ers turned back ECU, 67-52, in the Queen City on Feb. 3.
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