BOCA RATON, FL — East Carolina turned its attention to the American Athletic Conference tournament after an 81-53 loss at Florida Atlantic on Sunday and Pirates coach Mike Shwartz was sure about one factor.

“If we don’t play with more physicality, it might be our last game with our seniors,” Schwartz said on the ECU radio network. The remark was in reference to his sixth-seeded team’s Thursday night matchup with No. 11 seed Texas-San Antonio in the second round of the league event in Fort Worth (8 p.m., ESPNU). ECU received a first round bye.

The Owls had a 47-33 rebounding advantage as the Pirates slipped to 18-13 overall and 10-8 in the AAC.

After a 3-pointer by C.J. Walker cut FAU’s lead to 18-14 with 9:09 left in the half, the Owls took control with a 15-0 run.

The hosts made eight of 16 from beyond the arc in the first half for a 41-23 lead at intermission.

The Owls hit 15 of 16 free throws for the game, including six of six in the second half.

FAU (17-14, 10-8 AAC) was paced by Kyky Tandy with 19 points. Baba Miller had 14 points, 12 rebounds and five assists.

ECU was paced by Jordan Riley with 18 points. R.J. Felton scored 11.

The Pirates made just 17 of 58 field goal attempts (29.3 percent) and were two for 15 from beyond the arc, 13.3 percent.