By Al Myatt
©2014 Bonesville.net
All rights reserved.

Lebo, Richmond & Zangari post-game audio...

View full box score and stats on ecupirates.com

GREENVILLE — Akeem Richmond broke Lester Lyons' school record for career 3-pointers as East Carolina built a huge early led and held off Rice for a 67-55 Conference USA win in Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum on Saturday.

The outcome was the 400th win for the Pirates in Minges Colsieum, which opened during the 1967-68 season.

Richmond made five of 10 from beyond the arc as he scored 23 points. The performance gave the senior transfer from Rhode Island 230 made 3-pointers in less than two seasons at ECU. Lyons had 229 threes from 1990-94.

"It's incredible," said Pirates coach Jeff Lebo of Richmond's 3-point pace. "It's phenomenal. It's terrific to be able to break that record in just two years."

Richmond said he became aware that he was within range of the mark this week.

"I can't lie," Richmond said. "I was thinking about it. I told myself this morning that I was going to break it. I only needed five. I was really focused when I went out there."

Richmond's fourth long distance connection gave ECU a 29-4 lead.

Rice rallied within 46-44 with 9:46 to go but the Pirates responded with a vital 9-0 run that ended with five points from Paris Roberts-Campbell, who finished with nine points, six rebounds and four steals. A hamstring ailment curtailed Roberts-Campbell's evening and Lebo said he would be evaluated today.

Michael Zangari had 17 points and seven rebounds.

Prince Williams had 10 points, eight rebounds and five assists.

The Pirates improved to 15-13 on the season and 4-9 in C-USA. It was the first time ECU has won back-to-back league games in 2014 and it moved the Pirates to 4-3 in C-USA since an 0-6 start.

Rice (7-19, 2-11) got 14 points and 12 rebounds from Sean Obi. Austin Ramljak added 13 points for the Owls.

"I'll answer any questions about the second half that you want," Rice coach Ben Braun said. "I have amnesia. I don't remember much about the first half. We obviously got off to a rough start."

Richmond and fellow senior Petar Torlak will be recognized when the Pirates host Charlotte at 7 p.m. Thursday. The 49ers slipped to 14-12 overall and 5-8 in the league with a 64-62 home loss to Alabama-Birmingham on Saturday.