Barkley leads ECU over Temple, into matchup with No. 12 SMU (Mar 09, 2017)
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) Kentrell Barkley had career highs of 26 points and 16 rebounds to lead East Carolina to an 80-69 victory over Temple in the first round of the American Athletic Conference Tournament on Thursday.
Elijah Hughes added 17 points and Caleb White 11 for the ninth-seeded Pirates (15-17), who led wire-to-wire to advance to play top-seeded and No. 12-ranked SMU in a Friday quarterfinal. Barkley made three 3-pointers for ECU, which shot 51 percent overall and 48 percent from the arc (10 of 21).
Obi Enechionyia made four 3-pointers and scored 20 points for the eighth-seeded Owls (16-16), who split their two regular-season games with the Pirates. Quinton Rose added 13 points, Shizz Alston Jr. 11 and Quinto Rose 13 points and nine rebounds.
Deng Riak and Barkley hit 3-pointers to start the game as ECU took a 36-29 halftime lead. The Owls got within one at 11:20 of the second half put the Pirates pulled away, a 15-5 run giving them a 15-point lead in the final minute.
