GREENVILLE — Rice opened the second half on a 37-19 run in an 83-77 American Conference win at East Carolina on Wednesday night.

Jordan Riley had 37 points for the Pirates (6-15, 1-7 American), who used a 17-4 flurry to pull within five points at 74-69 with 1:59 to go on a 3-pointer by Demitri Gardner.

“Their guards kicked our butt,” said ECU coach Mike Schwartz on the Pirate radio network.

The Owls used a 4-guard lineup effectively that included Jalen Smith (21 points), Nick Anderson (19), Trae Broadnax (16) and Cam Carroll (14).

The hosts were down by nine points, at 30-21, with 4:29 left in the first half but pulled even at 33 at the break as Riley drove and scored with two seconds left.

Riley hit 14 of 29 field goal attempts, including two of eight behind the arc. He made seven of eight foul shots.

ECU struggled with its 3-point shooting, missing its first 11 from beyond the arc before finishing four for 19 for 21.1 percent.

Rice was 12 for 28 from distance for 42.9 percent.

The Pirates had an advantage on free throws, making 23 of 26 (88.5 percent while the visitors were 15 of 25 for 60 percent.

Gardner totaled 16 points and Giovanni Emejuru added 13 points with a team-high six rebounds. Corey Caulker had nine assists for ECU.

Broadnax had 10 rebounds as the Owls had a 36-34 advantage on the boards.

ECU had fewer turnovers, 9-13.

The Pirates play at Florida Atlantic on Sunday at 2 p.m. (ESPN+).

FAU (14-7, 6-2) has a game at Memphis (9-10, 4-3) on Thursday at 8 p.m. (ESPN2).