EAST CAROLINA 68 #20 SMU 74 F...The MUSTANGS the #1 Seed in the AMERICAN Conference hangs on to beat a feisty PIRATES Bunch!..."CAMPUS HARDWOOD" as I see the MUSTANGS in Kentucky's Bracket! #ECUPirates #StangNation #LarryBrownHoops

The SMU Mustangs the #1 seed in the American Conference as well as Conference Player of the Year Nic Moore sneaks by a feisty East Carolina Bunch 74-68 but not after the Pirates came out smoking early.

This game simply came down to SMU overwhelming the Pirates in the painted-area with Ben Moore (11 pts) and Markus Kennedy (15 pts 6 rebs). The Mustangs after falling behind early in the st half 19-9 at the 12 minute mark started to put it together behind SMU PG Nic Moore (20 pts) and Kennedy. SMU then finished the 1st half on a 28-13 run to go up 37-32 at the break.

The Pirates battled in the 2nd half as their guard play was sensational behind former FSU 'Noles Transfer Terry Whisnant (18 pts 6 rebs), Antonio Robinson (18 pts 6 rebs), and Caleb White (14 points). They to go 6 for 6 from deep with each hitting two money balls apiece to keep ECU within striking distance.

It was just too much of the American Conference P.O.Y. Nic Moore and Markus Kennedy's size that was a huge problem for the Pirates. SMU's equalizer for shooting just 3 for 9 from deep was getting 28 attempts at the stripe hitting 19 of them.