Pirates eliminated in C-USA opener

TULSA, Okla. -- Aubrey Coleman scored 29 points, three above his nation-leading average, and Houston rolled to a 93-80 victory over East Carolina in the first round of the Conference USA tournament Wednesday.

Seventh-seed Houston (16-15) will play second-seeded Memphis in the quarterfinals today.

In other first-round results Wednesday, Southern Miss defeated Tulane 57-47, Tulsa topped Rice 73-62 and UCF rolled past SMU 69-53.

Brock Young had 24 points to lead East Carolina (10-21) in the final game for coach Mack McCarthy, who is taking an administration job at the school.

Darrius Morrow added 22 points and Erin Straughn 12 for ECU.

Kelvin Lewis had 15 points for the Cougars. Houston began to empty its bench and run clock with more than 10 minutes remaining when it had a 23-point lead.

East Carolina crept within 88-78 with 3:49 to play, forcing Houston to call timeout and put the starters back in the game. The Pirates got as close as 89-80 before Coleman scored his final basket on a layup with a minute left.

East Carolina shot 58 percent in the first half but still trailed 50-37 as Houston hit seven 3-pointers. The Cougars finished 13-of-26 from 3-point range.

McCarthy finished his three years with the Pirates with a 34-57 record.