WRAL Sports Fan

Final Score: East Carolina 89, Houston 78

Greenville, NC (Sports Network) - Maurice Kemp went off for 30 points for the East Carolina Pirates as the defeated the Houston Cougars, 89-78, in a Conference USA matchup at the Minges Coliseum.

Kemp was 13-of-20 from the field while also grabbing nine rebounds with two steals for the Pirates (11-5, 2-1 C-USA), who have won three of their last four games. Miguel Paul added 16 points, eight assists, and two steals while Akeem Richmond contributed 14 points off the bench. Ty Armstrong scored nine points and pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds and Robert Sampson played a well rounded game to contribute eight points, five rebounds, three steals, and two blocks.

Danuel House led four Houston (12-4, 1-2) players in double-figure scoring with 22 points as the Cougars dropped their second consecutive game. TaShawn Thomas (18 points, eight rebounds), Joseph Young (15 points), and Leon Gibson (14 points, nine rebounds) all added solid performances in a losing effort.

Houston led 36-30 at halftime after shooting 50.0 percent from the field and holding East Carolina to just 32.4 percent shooting.

The Pirates responded strongly in the second half, shooting 54.3 percent from the floor and knocking down 8-of-15 3-point attempts as they outscored the Cougars, 59-42.

ECU scored 19 points off of 13 Houston turnovers while the Cougars only scored two points off five Pirates' turnovers