GREENVILLE, N.C. (Interstat) — Jordan Riley scored 31 points and East Carolina never trailed, leading wire-to-wire for an 84-68 victory over Memphis in an American Athletic Conference men’s basketball game Sunday at Williams Arena.

The Pirates, who led by as many as 18 points in the second half, snapped a two-game skid and improved to 11-18 overall. Memphis lost its third straight, falling to 12-17.

Riley, a 6-foot-4 guard from Brentwood, New York, was the catalyst, hitting 9 of 18 from the floor, including 3 of 7 from three-point range, and converting 10 of 12 free throws. He added six rebounds, three assists and two steals in 40 minutes. His backcourt partner, Corey Caulker, recorded a double-double with 16 points and 11 assists.

The most important part of the game was East Carolina’s immediate and sustained offensive execution in the first half, which built a cushion Memphis could never seriously threaten. The Pirates scored on their first three possessions, with Riley hitting a three-pointer and Eli DeLaurier adding a jumper for a quick 7-2 lead. They continued to pour it on, shooting a blistering 64.3% from the field in the opening period. A 13-2 run midway through the half, capped by a Caulker three-pointer and a DeLaurier three-pointer, stretched the lead to 27-12. The Pirates took a 44-30 advantage into halftime, a margin built on efficient offense that saw them commit just six turnovers while assisting on nine of their 16 made baskets.

Memphis, by contrast, struggled with its shot all afternoon. The Tigers finished just 25 of 67 from the field, a 37.3% clip, and were a frigid 5 for 16 from beyond the arc. They also missed seven free throws. Julius Thedford led Memphis with 16 points, while Dug McDaniel added 15 points and five assists. Sincere Parker chipped in 12 points off the bench.

The second half saw East Carolina maintain its double-digit lead throughout. Every time Memphis showed a flicker of momentum, the Pirates had an answer. When the Tigers cut the deficit to 12 points early in the period, Riley responded with a dunk. Later, after a Sincere Parker three-pointer made it 64-53, Riley immediately answered with a three-pointer of his own on the ensuing possession to push the lead back to 14. The Pirates’ lead never dipped below 12 points in the final 12 minutes.

East Carolina’s offensive efficiency was the story, as they scored 84 points on just 74 possessions, an offensive rating of 114.3. They shot 53.6% from the field and 50% from three-point range. Memphis managed only 87.7 points per 100 possessions. The Pirates also won the battle inside, outscoring Memphis 42-34 in the paint and blocking five shots.

DeLaurier provided a significant boost off the bench for East Carolina with 11 points on 5-of-8 shooting. Luke Davis added eight points and five rebounds. For Memphis, Thierno Sylla had six points and three rebounds.

The game was a reversal of pregame expectations, as statistical models heavily favored Memphis. The Tigers had been installed as a 5-point favorite, and the total score of 152 fell under the projected over/under of 149.5.

East Carolina will look to build on the win when it hosts Tulsa on Thursday. Memphis returns home to face South Florida, also on Thursday.