SAN ANTONIO — Three free throws by Dimitri Gardner with three seconds left lifted East Carolina to an 82-81 American Conference triumph at Texas-San Antonio on Wednesday night.

The Pirates improved to 10-18 overall and 5-10 in league play after trailing, 45-34, with 19:32 to go.

Jordan Riley led ECU with 27 points. Gardner finished with 13 points. Corey Caulker scored 12 and Giovanni Emejuru added 11. Eli DeLaurier tallied nine points.

The Pirates were down, 81-78, after a pair of free throws with seven seconds remaining by Jamir Simpson, who led UTSA (5-23, 1-15) with 22 points and 10 assists.

Caulker made the first of two free throws with five seconds to go and Gardner got the rebound after Caulker missed his second attempt. He was fouled by Dorian Hayes.

Emejuru and DeLaurier had six rebounds each as ECU had a 29-25 rebounding advantage. Caulker had six assists.

The Pirates overcame a 43-34 halftime deficit with improved shooting.

ECU hit 14 of 27 field goal attempts (51.9 percent) in the second half, including four of eight from behind the arc (50 percent) and made 16 of 20 free throws over the final 20 minutes (80 percent).

The Pirates had fewer turnovers, 13-17.

ECU hosts Memphis (12-15, 7-7) in its next action on Sunday at 2 p.m. (ESPN+). The Tigers host Wichita State on Thursday at 9 p.m. (ESPN2).