East Carolina and Houston both picked up American Athletic Conference men's basketball victories on Saturday, December 31.

Sunday, December 31
No. 3 Houston 71, UCF 65 - Box Score
East Carolina 79, Wichita State 69 - Box Score

No. 3 Houston 71, UCF 65 - Box Score
HOUSTON (AP) — Tramon Mark scored 19 points, Marcus Sasser had 18 points and No. 3 Houston held on for a 71-65 win over Central Florida on Saturday.

J’Wan Roberts added 12 points and Jamal Shead scored 11 points for Houston (14-1, 2-0 American Athletic Conference). The Cougars shot 38%, including 6 of 19 on 3-pointers.

Houston forced 13 UCF turnovers and converted them into 20 points.

Darius Johnson had 17 points and eight rebounds, Ithiel Horton and Taylor Hendricks each scored 14 points and C.J. Kelly scored 11 points for the Knights (10-4, 1-1). UCF shot 39%, including 6 of 27 on 3-pointers.

Trailing by two with 7 ½ minutes remaining, Houston went on an 8-0 streak to take a 60-54 lead with 5:42 remaining on a three-point play by Roberts, who scored all eight points on the run. The Knights responded with a 7-2 spurt to cut the lead to one on a free throw by Kelly with three minutes left.

After two free throws by Ja’Vier Francis increased Houston’s lead to three, Horton missed two 3-pointers and Sasser made one of two free throws with a minute left to put Houston up 65-61.

UCF turned the ball over on its next possession, and Shead hit two free throws to up the lead to six with 32 seconds remaining.

The Cougars led 39-31 at the half, but the Knights went on a 15-3 run to open up a 46-42 lead in the second with 15 minutes left.

East Carolina 79, Wichita State 69 - Box Score
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Brandon Johnson had 17 points in East Carolina’s 79-69 victory against Wichita State on Saturday night.

Johnson had eight rebounds for the Pirates (10-5, 1-1 American). Ezra Ausar scored 16 points and added five rebounds. Javon Small recorded 14 points.

The Shockers (7-7, 0-2) were led by Kenny Pohto, who posted 21 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks. Shammah Scott added 19 points for Wichita State. Jaron Pierre Jr. also had 12 points.

East Carolina took the lead for good with 9:30 remaining in the second half on a 3-pointer from Jaden Walker to make it a 59-56 game.