Box Score

RALEIGH, N.C. - Sophomore Jonathan Moore scored 23 points in his collegiate debut as East Carolina rallied from an 11-point second half deficit to defeat Rutgers, 79-74, in the first round of the BCA Invitational at the Entertainment and Sports Arena Wednesday.

The Pirates will play Northwestern in the semifinals on Thursday at 9 p.m.

"This is a great win for us and for Conference USA," said Pirate head coach Bill Herrion. "This was as good as a team effort as I`ve been involved with in my 11 years of coaching."

The two teams traded baskets throughout the first half as the lead-changed hands six times prior to the intermission. Rutgers closed out the first half with an 11-3 run to take a six-point into the lockerroom, 40-34.

Jerome Coleman paced the Scarlet Knights during the first half with four three points, but Moore kept ECU (1-0) within shouting distance by scoring 17 first half points.

The second half began just as the first half ended with Rutgers scoring six of the half`s first eight points, eventually pushing the lead to 11, 49-38.

Trailing 54-43 with 13:55 remaining in regulation, the Pirates went on an 18-6 run over the next 7:09 to take its first lead since leading 14-13. ECU scored 12 straight points on three-pointers as Travis Holcomb-Faye, Bryan Foxx and Brandon Hawkins all drilled consecutive jumpers from behind the arc. Hawkins second three-point field goal of the sequence pulled the Pirates within one, capping a 12-2 run.

Erroyl Bing completed a three-point with 5:07 remaining to give the Pirates a lead it never relinquished. ECU lead by as many as eight with 1:12 to play and made three of its final four free throws to seal the victory.

After scoring just two points in the first half, Bing poured in 15 second half points and garnered a team-high nine rebounds. Junior point guard Travis Holcomb-Faye also finished in double figures for the Pirates with 10 points.

Coleman led all scorers with 24 points and Mike Sherrod added 17 points for the Scarlet Knights.