HOUSTON — East Carolina won its second straight American Conference game, 85-75, at Rice on Saturday.

The Pirates improved to 9-16 overall and 4-8 in league play as Jordan Riley led four players into double-figure scoring with 22 points.

Demitri Gardner had 21 points. Giovanni Emejuru tallied 17 and Corey Caulker added 14 as ECU won for the fourth time in its last six games.

Trae Broadnax led Rice, which had topped the Pirates, 83-77, in Greenville on Jan. 28, with 27 points. Bodey Howell had 19 points with five 3-pointers for the Owls (11-15, 5-8 American).

ECU went ahead to stay on a 12-foot jumper in the lane by Jordan Riley with 12:10 left in the first half for a 16-15 advantage.

A three from Riley with 11:56 to go gave the Pirates a 61-45 lead.

ECU was 29 for 54 on field goal attempts for 53.7 percent, including eight for 17 from beyond the arc (47.1 percent). The Pirates were four for 19 from long distance in the first matchup with Rice, 21.1 percent.

ECU sank 19 of 26 free throws Saturday, 73.1 percent.

The Owls had a 34-28 rebounding edge despite using a four-guard lineup. Rice had more turnovers, 9-8.

Riley had four assists and three steals.

ECU hosts Wichita State on Wednesday at 7 p.m. (ESPN+). The Pirates took a 77-60 road loss to the Shockers on Jan. 21. Wichita State (15-10, 7-5) visited Tulsa on Saturday night.