GREENVILLE, N.C. (AP) B.J. Tyson scored 22 points and Michel-Ofik Nzege added 18 more to lead East Carolina to a 99-81 win over NC Wesleyan on Friday night.
Tyson shot 7 of 10 from the field and was a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line to become the first East Carolina player to score more than 20 points in their debut game since Darrell Jenkins in 2006. Nzege, who was 7 of 9 from the field, also had 12 rebounds.
Marshall Guilmette, Caleb White and Terry Whisnant scored 14 points apiece in the win, the second straight year the teams have opened their seasons against each other and their third meeting.
NC Wesleyan, an NCAA Division III team, was led by Eric Dortch-Jones, who had 25 points, including a pair of 3-pointers. Adrian Moore added 13 points for the Battling Bishops.
