Young scores 16 points, all in second half, as East Carolina withstands rally by Coker 69-63

Young, East Carolina hold off Coker 69-63

GREENVILLE, N.C. — Brock Young scored all 16 of his points in the second half and Jamar Abrams also scored 16 points as East Carolina held off Coker College 69-63 on Saturday night.

The Pirates (4-5) led 63-52 with 4:13 remaining after two free throws by Young, but the Cobras (3-4), a Division II team, got within 65-62 with 1:36 to play on a dunk by Derek Bailey.

East Carolina’s Jontae Sherrod was fouled with 1:15 left and made both free throws for 67-62. After Coker’s Vatrick Thompson made 1 of 2 free throws to cut the lead to four, Abrams was fouled with 25 seconds left and made both for the final margin.

East Carolina fell behind 9-3 barely 3 minutes into the game but ended the half with a 32-27 lead. Sherrod scored nine of his 11 points in the half.

Thompson led Coker with 18 points, while Mason Ambler had his sixth double-double of the season with 15 points and 11 rebounds.