East Carolina 72, Tulsa 63

Feb 20, 2013, 10:31 pm

TULSA, Okla. -- Maurice Kemp scored 23 points and East Carolina rode a game-ending 21-7 run to a 72-63 victory over Conference USA foe Tulsa on Wednesday night.

Kemp, who came in averaging a conference-leading 18 points per game, was 9 of 14 from the floor for the Pirates (15-10, 6-6), who pulled into a tie with Tulsa for fifth place in the C-USA standings. Akeem Richmond added 17 points and Ty Armstrong had 13.

Scottie Haralson had 20 points for the Golden Hurricane (14-12, 6-6), who led 56-51 after Haralson's jumper with 6:41 to play. But Richmond scored nine straight points on three 3-pointers to put East Carolina ahead to stay, and the Pirates made six free throws in the final minute to secure the victory.

ECU led by as many as 14 early before a second-half rally by Tulsa, which was coming off a 101-92, triple-overtime victory over Houston on Saturday.