When SMU handed East Carolina a 24-point home loss Jan. 13, the Mustangs had an early 1½ game lead in the American Conference standings. Later that night, they became the lone undefeated team in college basketball when South Carolina lost.
Five weeks later, the two teams met again. This time, SMU needed a win to avoid back-to-back losses and falling a game and a half behind first-place Temple.
The Mustangs (22-4, 10-4 AAC) got that win Sunday afternoon, 74-63, but not without a fight from ECU. The Pirates (10-17, 2-12) made 12 of their 24 three-point attempts, including a 7-for-14 mark in the first half.