CHAMP CENTRAL
HARTFORD, Conn. - Kentrell Barkley scored 26 points as East Carolina beat Temple 80-69 in the first round of the 2017 Frontier Communications American Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament at the XL Center.
Barkley finished 9-for-17 from the field including 3-for-6 from three and added an American Conference tournament record for single game rebounds with 16 as the sophomore posted a double-double.
Freshman Elijah Hughes finished with 17 points and Caleb White added 11 for the Pirates. East Carolina (15-17) shot 49.1 percent from the field and 45 percent from the three-point line as the Pirates won their second American conference tournament game in school history.
Temple (16-16) was led by Obi Enechionyia who finished with 20 points and Quinten Rose added 13. The Owls only shot 37.7 percent from the field (26-for-69) and 9-for-29 from three-point range.
East Carolina jumped out to a seven point halftime lead but the Owls hung around for the majority of the second half pulling within one on multiple occasions. After a Daniel Moore layup cut the lead with 12:26 left to play, East Carolina pushed the lead to five quickly and never let the game get closer than five the rest of the way.
The Pirates move on to face top seed SMU Friday at Noon ET on ESPN2.