GREENVILLE, N.C. (AP) -- Darrius Morrow scored 16 points and Maurice Kemp had a double-double to help East Carolina to an 82-68 win over Rice on Saturday.
Kemp finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds -- five offensive -- for the Pirates (12-10, 3-6 Conference USA), who have won three in a row. Miguel Paul also had 14 points with a game-high six assists, while Corvonn Gaines and Paris Campbell each had 13 points.
East Carolina trailed 54-53 with 12:38 left in the second half when Rice's Omar Oraby scored on a layup. But the Owls (13-1, 4-5) would never lead again, as the Pirates answered with a 3-pointer by Robert Sampson to take a two-point lead.
East Carolina went on to finish the game strong, pushing its lead to 16 points -- its largest of the game.
Dylan Ennis led Rice with 21 points and Tamir Jackson added 17.
