Jan. 12, 2013
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By Doug Richards
UCFAthletics.com
Box Score in PDF Format GREENVILLE, N.C. (UCFAthletics.com) - Behind career nights from Keith Clanton and Tristan Spurlock, the Knights appeared to be headed to a big victory Saturday at East Carolina. But despite the big scoring nights from the upperclassmen, UCF allowed East Carolina to rally for an 88-85 overtime victory as the Pirates connected on a last-second 3-pointer to record the Conference USA win.
East Carolina trailed by as many as 17 points in the second half and took the win at Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum when Corvonn Gaines drained a 3-pointer with less than a second left on the clock.
Clanton totaled 36 points and Spurlock added 23 points and 11 rebounds for the Knights (11-5, 1-1 C-USA).
Clanton tied the game at 85 with 14 seconds left in overtime with a layup. East Carolina's (10-5, 1-1) Miguel Paul then pushed the ball up the court, drew a pair of UCF defenders and found an open Gaines in the corner for the game-winning triple. UCF was unable to get a shot off as time expired.
The Knights led 59-42 with 11:33 to play before the Pirates drained a bevy of 3-pointers as part of their comeback. UCF played the majority of the second half and all of overtime without Isaiah Sykes, who left the game with an injury. The hosts took a 2-point advantage with 59 seconds left in regulation when Maurice Kemp made two free throws, but Clanton tied the game and sent the contest into overtime with a jumper with 17 seconds remaining.
"This is a tough way to lose. Our guys did some great things tonight, but we did not execute down the stretch," UCF head coach Donnie Jones said.
The Pirates outscored the Knights 49-40 in the second half when they shot 52.9 percent overall.
The Knights used a 26-9 run to conclude the first half to take a 36-27 edge into the break. Spurlock scored 14 of his points before intermission. UCF grabbed 11 offensive boards in the opening stanza and outrebounded the Pirates, 30-11. Twenty-eight of the visitor's points came in the paint.
Kemp, Paul, Ty Armstrong and Shamarr Bowden all finished with 16 points in the win.
UCF shot 52.9 percent for the game and finished with a 46-34 advantage on the boards. Clanton made 15-of-19 attempts from the floor.
The Knights were playing on the road for the first time since Dec. 14. Last season, UCF swept the season series with the Pirates. The squads will meet again in Orlando on Feb. 9.
UCF does not play Wednesday and will return to action next Saturday at Houston. The team's next home game is Jan. 23 against Rice.