Recap: Rice vs. East Carolina

Memphis, TN (Sports Network) - Darrius Morrow totaled 16 points and five assists as East Carolina snuck past Rice, 68-66, in Conference USA first-round action.

Erin Straughn notched 13 points and a game-high 11 rebounds for the Pirates (15-15), the 10-seed who advance to face second-seeded Southern Miss in a Thursday quarterfinal.

Arsalan Kazemi and Lucas Kuipers totaled 10 points each for the Owls (17-15), who have dropped three of their last four games.

Miguel Paul connected on a pair of free throws to give Rice a four-point edge with 30 seconds remaining, then Kazemi's dunk trimmed the margin to two.

Paul then missed the front end of a 1-and-1 at the other end and Kuipers was unable to sink his shot with four ticks remaining. Maurice Kemp came down with the defensive board and time ran out.