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GREENVILLE, N.C. (AP) -- Brandon Johnson scored 27 points as East Carolina beat SMU 77-72 on Saturday night.

Johnson had six rebounds for the Pirates (12-12, 3-8 American Athletic Conference). Ezra Ausar scored 19 points and added 13 rebounds. RJ Felton shot 6 for 13 (3 for 6 from 3-point range) and 3 of 4 from the free throw line to finish with 18 points.

The Mustangs (8-16, 3-8) were led by Zhuric Phelps, who posted 23 points and two steals. Zach Nutall added 18 points for SMU. Samuell Williamson had 10 points and seven rebounds.

Johnson scored 13 points in the first half for East Carolina, which led 40-32 at halftime. East Carolina used an 8-0 second-half run to erase a one-point deficit and take the lead at 60-53 with 8:29 left in the half. Johnson scored 14 second-half points.

 

SMU Postgame Notes - February 4, 2023

• ECU 77, SMU 72
• ECU (12-12, 3-8 American), SMU (8-16, 3-8 American)
• Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum – Greenville, North Carolina

NEXT GAME

• Temple – Wednesday, February 8 – 7 p.m. CT – David B. Miller Court at Moody Coliseum – Dallas, Texas
• TV: ESPN+
• Radio: KAAM 770 AM | Audio Streaming: SMU App (Google Play | Apple App Store)
   

NOTES

• Starters: #1 Zhuric Phelps (G, So.), #2 Jalen Smith (G, So.), #10 Zach Nutall (G, Sr.), #11 Samuell Williamson (F, Sr.), #23 Efe Odigie (F, Sr.)
  • 13^th game with this lineup, 7^th straight game
• SMU had 3 score in double figures: Zhuric Phelps (23), Zach Nutall (18), Samuell Williamson (10)
  • Zhuric Phelps 12^th game with 19+ points this season
• SMU outscored ECU 38-28 in the paint and 18-12 in points off turnovers
• SMU had 10 turnovers, 7^th time with 10 or less this season

SMU RUNS

• SMU rallied from down 13 (38-25), had the game tied 67-67 with 1:53 to play
  • SMU trailed 40-32 at halftime
• 19-6 run from 16:27 to 10:57 2^nd half to get within 51-49 (Zhuric Phelps had 9 points in the run)
• 13-5 to tie the game 67-67 with 1:53 left on a Samuell Williamson reverse layup

ADDITIONAL INDIVIDUAL NOTES

Keon Ambrose-Hylton (#22, Jr., F)

• 8 points, 4 rebounds, 1 blocked shot
  • Entered game averaging 0.7 blocked shots (13^th AAC)
  • At least 4 rebounds in 9 of 11 AAC games
  • 7 blocks in the past 5 games

Zach Nutall (#10, Sr., G)

• 18 points, 3 assists, 1 steals
  • Entered game averaging 13.6 points (17^th AAC)
  • 18^th time scoring 10+ this season, 10^th game with 15+
    • 11 points in the 1^st half - 5^th time in double figures in the 1^st half this season, 2^nd straight
  • 11^th game this season with 3+ assists
  • 3-7 on 3FGs, entered game at 33.3% (11^th AAC) and 2.0 threes made per game (12^th AAC)
    • 8-16 on threes the past 2 games (5-9 at Tulane 2/1)

Efe Odigie (#23, Sr., F)

• 7 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 blocked shot
  • Entered game averaging 10.7 points and 6.7 rebounds (9^th AAC)
  • Multiple assists in 3 of the past 6 games
  • 12^th game with 8+ rebounds

Zhuric Phelps (#1, So., G) – AAC Player of the Week on Dec. 26, AAC Weekly Honor Roll on Nov. 28

• 23 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals
  • Entered game averaging 16.6 points (7^th AAC), 2.0 steals (4^th AAC)
  • 19^th game this season scoring 10+, 16^th game scoring 15+, 8^th game with 20+
    • 10 points in the first half - 6^th time scoring in double figures in the first half this season
  • 11^th game with multiple steals
  • 12^th game this season with 3+ assists
  • 9^th game with at least 5 rebounds

Samuell Williamson (#11, Sr., F) – AAC Weekly Honor Roll on Jan. 2

• 10 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal
  • Entered game averaging 7.4 rebounds (6^th AAC), 1.3 steals (12^th AAC), 0.9 blocks (11^th AAC)
  • 9^th game this season scoring 10+
  • 13^th game this season with 7+ rebounds