Jontae Sherrod knocked down a deep 3-pointer with 2.3 seconds to play Saturday to lift East Carolina to a 71-68 victory over Rice.
Sherrod's shot was one of 14 3-pointers for the Pirates (15-13, 7-7 Conference USA), with most of those coming at key junctures.
Rice (12-16, 4-10) battled back from a 10-point halftime deficit to pull within 50-48 with 12:59 remaining. But back-to-back 3-pointers by Jamar Abrams and Sherrod later extended the Pirates' lead to 58-49.
Abrams hit another trey after Rice had tied the game at 65, but the Owls' Lucas Kuipers answered with a 3-pointer of his own with 34 seconds left to tie the game 68-68, setting up Sherrod's game-winner.
Abrams had 18 points and Sherrod 17 for East Carolina, which attempted 27 3-pointers in the game.
Tamir Jackson led Rice with 18 points, and Kuipers had 15. Arsalan Kazemi added 13 points and 11 rebounds.
