By Staff
Staff, Wire Reports
HOUSTON — The woes continue for the East Carolina men’s basketball team.
The Pirates found themselves down 51-31 at halftime to the Houston Cougars in Wednesday’s Conference USA game at Hofheinz Pavilion. ECU could never mount much of a threat in the second half, eventually falling 85-67.
ECU has lost three straight and seven of their last eight.
Aubrey Coleman paced five Houston (12-4, 3-1) players in double figures with 23 points. Marcus Cousin added 18 points and Kelvin Lewis had 16.
The Pirates (9-8, 1-3) were led by Sam Hinnant, who had 22 points. Brock Young had eight points and 12 assists.
The Pirates will look to break their skid when they play at SMU on Saturday. Tipoff is slated for 5 p.m.
ECU returns home Wednesday to take on No. 22 Memphis.
HOUSTON 85, EAST CAROLINA 67
EAST CAROLINA (9-8)
Morrow 4-7 4-5 12, Turner 0-0 0-0 0, Legan 3-6 0-0 9, Hinnant 9-19 2-2 22, Young 2-6 4-4 8, Kupets 0-2 0-0 0, Abrams 4-13 2-3 10, Sherrod 0-2 0-0 0, Sargent 0-0 2-2 2, Wynn 2-2 0-0 4. Totals 24-57 14-16 67.
HOUSTON (12-4)
Calhoun 5-9 0-0 12, Cousin 7-11 4-6 18, Lewis 5-12 3-4 16, Wade 1-5 0-0 2, A.Coleman 8-16 7-8 23, Nixon 0-0 0-0 0, Mosley 0-0 0-2 0, Williams 5-7 2-4 12, McGloster 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 32-62 16-24 85.
Halftime—Houston 51-31. 3-Point Goals—East Carolina 5-19 (Legan 3-4, Hinnant 2-8, Kupets 0-1, Sherrod 0-1, Young 0-1, Abrams 0-4), Houston 5-16 (Lewis 3-8, Calhoun 2-4, A.Coleman 0-1, McGloster 0-1, Wade 0-1, Williams 0-1). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—East Carolina 30 (Abrams 9), Houston 40 (Cousin 13). Assists—East Carolina 16 (Young 12), Houston 16 (Wade 4). Total Fouls—East Carolina 18, Houston 17. A—3,520.