GREENVILLE, N.C. (Interstat) — In a marathon American Athletic Conference clash defined by grit and missed opportunities, Wichita State outlasted East Carolina 92-89 in double overtime Wednesday night at Williams Arena.

The game, witnessed by 3,150 fans, saw the Shockers squander a late lead in regulation, survive a potential game-winner at the first overtime buzzer, and finally pull away in the second extra period to secure a pivotal road victory.

Wichita State improved to 17-10 overall, while East Carolina fell to 9-17.

The contest was a stark contrast to the teams’ meeting just four weeks prior, a comfortable 77-60 Shockers win in Wichita. This time, the Pirates, led by a heroic individual effort, pushed the Shockers to the absolute limit.

That effort was spearheaded by East Carolina guard Jordan Riley. The Brentwood, New York, native delivered a staggering performance, playing all 48 minutes and pouring in a game-high 40 points on 15-of-33 shooting. He carried the Pirates’ offense for long stretches, keeping them afloat despite the team’s struggles from distance and the free-throw line.

Wichita State countered with its own backcourt star, as TJ Williams emerged from a recent stretch of limited minutes to deliver a season-defining performance. The Wichita, Kansas, native scored 27 points, including several crucial baskets in the overtimes, and added two assists and a block in 35 minutes. His backcourt mate, Kenyon Giles of Chesapeake, Virginia, was equally vital, logging 47 minutes and contributing 24 points.

The Shockers led 37-33 at halftime and maintained a narrow advantage for much of the second half. With the score tied at 69 and just 12 seconds remaining in regulation, Giles drained a deep 3-pointer to seemingly seal the win. But East Carolina answered immediately, as Riley was fouled on a 3-point attempt with 3 seconds left. He calmly sank all three free throws to force overtime, knotting the score at 72.

The first overtime was a tense, low-scoring affair, with both teams managing only nine points. East Carolina had a chance to win it at the buzzer, but a 3-point attempt by Isaiah Mbeng rimmed out, sending the exhausted teams to a second overtime tied at 81.

Fatigue and foul trouble then began to decisively favor Wichita State. The Shockers opened the second overtime on a 7-2 run, keyed by Williams and Giles. East Carolina’s offense, so reliant on Riley, finally faltered, and critical misses from the free-throw line proved costly. The Pirates shot just 16 of 28 from the stripe for the game, including several misses in the bonus periods.

Wichita State’s interior presence also made a significant difference. Seven-foot-two center Will Berg of Stockholm, Sweden, scored 12 points and provided a key defensive presence, while the Shockers dominated points in the paint, 48-32. East Carolina’s Giovanni Emejuru, a 6-foot-10 forward from Leicester, England, battled inside for 16 points and three blocks.

Despite committing 15 turnovers to East Carolina’s 11 and being out-assisted 7-5, Wichita State won with efficiency in key areas. They outscored the Pirates 21-20 off turnovers and held a 15-6 advantage in fast-break points. Both teams shot nearly identically from the field—Wichita State at 47.4% (36 of 76), East Carolina at 45.5% (35 of 77)—but the Shockers’ slight edge in volume from beyond the arc (5 of 22 to East Carolina’s 3 of 13) and their superior conversion at the line down the stretch provided the final margin.

For East Carolina, Demitri Gardner added 14 points and Mbeng dished out five assists.

The most important sequence of the game unfolded in the final 15 seconds of regulation. Giles’ clutch 3-pointer appeared to be the dagger, but Riley’s composure to draw the foul and sink three pressure-packed free throws encapsulated the night’s relentless back-and-forth struggle and set the stage for the epic overtimes that followed.

Wichita State, which entered the game as a 6.5-point favorite, narrowly covered the spread in the most dramatic fashion possible. The combined score of 181 far exceeded the over/under line of 143.

The Shockers will look to build on the hard-fought win when they host Temple on Saturday. East Carolina travels to face Charlotte the same day.