WICHITA, Kan. (AP) Erik Stevenson scored 17 points to help No. 24 Wichita State outlast East Carolina 75-69 on Wednesday.
Stevenson scored 10 of his 17 points after halftime for the Shockers (12-1, 1-0 American), who trailed midway through the second half thanks to East Carolina’s Jayden Gardner scoring 20 of his 29 points after halftime.
Jamarius Burton had 15 points for Wichita State while Tyson Etienne and Trey Wade added 11 each for the Shockers.
J.J. Miles scored 12 points for the Pirates (6-8, 0-1 American), and Tremont Robinson-White added 11.
Gardner, who entered the game leading the American in scoring at 20.7 points a game, was 11 of 19 from the floor and had a game-high 10 rebounds.
Etienne entered the game shooting 47 percent from 3, second among freshman nationally, but made only one of his first seven attempts. He made two of his final three to propel Wichita State to the victory.
East Carolina had two final-minute possessions down four or less that resulted in a turnover and a blocked shot, helping Wichita State seal the win.
BIG PICTURE
East Carolina: The Pirates were competitive as heavy underdogs and now have three straight home games in the most favorable part of the schedule
Wichita State: The Shockers weren’t pretty but kept their momentum heading into two significant home games
UP NEXT
East Carolina: The Pirates host South Florida on Tuesday.
Wichita State: The Shockers hot Mississippi on Saturday.
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