By By BRIAN HAINES
Sports Writer
GREENVILLE — A career-high 28 point effort by East Carolina junior forward Jamar Abrams wasn’t enough to offset the balanced attack by the University of Central Florida on Tuesday as the Knights featured three players in double-digit scoring in their 67-58 win over the Pirates.
The win was UCF’s 17-year coach Kirk Speraw’s 275 with the school, giving him the most in the programs’ history.
Abrams would do his best to keep that from happening, but his 5-8 shooting from downtown and 11-17 shooting from the floor wasn’t enough.
The 6-8 junior was the only Pirate in double-digit scoring and added five boards to go along with his game-high 28 points.
Abrams said that improving his technique helped improve his stroke.
“Knowing when to shoot and staying with my shot (was important),” Abrams said. “I’ve noticed from watching film that the last couple of games I have been fading away on my shot.”
East Carolina point guard Brock Young nearly hit a triple-double as he tallied nine points, eight assists and eight rebounds.
The Central Florida defense locked down on ECU nabbing 14 steals and forcing 20 turnovers.
A.J. Tyler and freshman guard Marcus Jordan, son of NBA legend Michael Jordan, led the team with four steals each.
“Clearly the game came down to their defense,” ECU coach Mack McCarthy said. “They turned us over 20 times, that’s the big stat that jumps out at you.”
Taylor Young paced the Knights (10-11, 2-5) in their Conference USA battle against ECU (7-15, 1-7) with a team-high 16 points, while Isaac Sosa came off the bench to tally 14 and A.J. Tyler chipped in 10.
The Knights were deadly from downtown, where they shot 44 percent (8-18) thanks to a hot night from Tyler and Sosa.
Tyler was a perfect 3-3 from beyond the arc, while Sosa hit of four of his eight attempts.
East Carolina got off to a fast start, and after an Abrams three-pointer, held a 13-7 lead midway through the first half. However, back-to-back Sosa 3's gave the Knights a 22-20 advantage with 3:38 to go in the first segment.
UCF would head into the break holding a 24-23 lead thanks to a Tyler bucket with :01 left on the clock.
Another Abrams’ three would give ECU a 29-27 advantage early in the second half, but the Pirates failed to build on their momentum.
Instead, UCF got hot and ripped off an 18-3 run highlighted by two Sosa triples and back-to-back buckets by point guard A.J. Rompza (five points, five assists.)
After Sosa’s second three-pointer the Knights held a 45-31 advantage, leaving Speraw 10:53 away from his milestone victory.
The Pirates will be back in action on Feb. 6 when they play at Marshall.
UCF 67, EAST CAROLINA 56
UCF (11-11)
Tyler 5-10 0-0 10, Clanton 0-5 2-2 2, Young 4-6 5-6 16, Rompza 2-6 1-2 5, Jordan 2-6 5-6 9, Scott 0-0 0-0 0, Sosa 5-10 0-0 14, Diakite 0-4 2-2 2, Gaynor 4-5 0-0 9. Totals 22-52 15-18 67.
EAST CAROLINA (7-15)
Morrow 3-7 2-6 8, Abrams 11-17 1-1 28, Straughn 2-5 0-0 5, Young 4-16 0-0 9, Gaines 0-0 0-0 0, Sherrod 1-7 3-4 6, Wynn 0-0 0-0 0, Joyner 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 21-54 6-11 56.
Halftime—UCF 24-23. 3-Point Goals—UCF 8-18 (Sosa 4-8, Young 3-3, Gaynor 1-1, Diakite 0-1, Rompza 0-2, Jordan 0-3), East Carolina 8-19 (Abrams 5-7, Young 1-3, Straughn 1-4, Sherrod 1-5). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—UCF 26 (Tyler 9), East Carolina 38 (Young 8). Assists—UCF 14 (Young 6), East Carolina 15 (Young 8). Total Fouls—UCF 13, East Carolina 15. Technical—Sherrod. A—3,589.