Recap: East Carolina vs. UNC Greensboro

Greenville, NC (Sports Network) - Miguel Paul scored 24 points as the East Carolina Pirates downed the UNC Greensboro Spartans, 76-73, in an intrastate showdown at Minges Coliseum.

Maurice Kemp posted a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Pirates (3-0). Akeem Richmond added 16 points and Marshal Guilmette chipped in 10 points.

For the Spartans (1-2), Trevis Simpson led the way with 19 points, while Korey Van Dussen finished with 18 points and Kayel Locke scored 14 points.

UNC Greensboro came out strong to start the game, connecting on 50 percent of its shots from the floor, including 7-of-12 from three-point range, as it took a 39-31 lead into halftime. East Carolina shot 42.3 percent in the frame, but just 3-of-12 from beyond the arc.

The teams switched fortunes after halftime. The Spartans cooled off to just 37 percent shooting. The Pirates heated up, draining 56.5 percent of their shots from the field, including 4-of-10 from long range. After trailing by 14 points early in the second half, East Carolina steadily chipped away at the deficit, finally taking its first lead of the contest with 6:33 to play, a lead it would never relinquish as it held on for the comeback victory.

The Pirates converted 14 Spartan turnovers into 16 points. East Carolina also outscored UNC Greensboro in the paint, 34-26.