By Al Myatt
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GREENVILLE — East Carolina played well coming out of a break for exams in an 84-71 nonconference basketball win over North Carolina A&T on Saturday evening in Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum.

Veterans Akeem Richmond and Paris Roberts-Campbell had 21 points each as the Pirates improved to 9-2.

"That was a good win for our team coming out of finals," said fourth-year ECU coach Jeff Lebo. "When you have a long layoff like that you always worry about a team coming out and throwing something different at you and I thought we handled it pretty good the first half and got a great start to the second half, but we didn't finish the game like we like should've."

The Pirates edged Mount Olive 77-75 in their last game on Dec. 8.

"Paris and Akeem can both shoot 50 percent from the three and that seems to be our recipe for having a decent night;" Lebo said. "They did tonight."

Richmond made four of eight behind the arc and was six of 12 overall from the field. He made all five of his free throws.

"It is very difficult to beat us when Paris Roberts (Campbell) and I are making shots," Richmond said. "If we're missing shots, it's pretty easy to beat us. We have to make shots every night and we really have to be consistent."

Roberts-Campbell made five of 10 field goal attempts, was three for six on threes and dropped eight of 11 from the line. He also contributed six assists, four steals and five rebounds.

Prince Williams had 12 points for ECU with five rebounds and five assists. Freshman Brandan Stith grabbed 10 rebounds. Michael Zangari scored all 10 of his points in the first half as ECU led 44-27 at the break.

The Pirates' biggest lead was 28 points in the second half.

Richaud Pack led the Aggies (3-7) with 20 points. Bruce Beckford had 17 points for A&T and Lamont Middleton added 16.

ECU hosts VMI on Thursday at 7 p.m.