TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- Terrence Leather scored 23 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to lead South Florida past East Carolina 60-50 Saturday night.
Brian Swift added 17 points for South Florida (11-13, 4-9 Conference USA), which took sole possession of 12th place in the league and the final qualifying spot in the conference tournament. Marlyn Bryant added 13 points and 11 rebounds.
Bryant gave South Florida its biggest lead at 49-36 with a jumper with 7 minutes left, but East Carolina answered with a 12-4 run to cut the deficit to five. However, the Pirates managed just two more points as the Bulls pulled away.
Mike Cook scored 11 and Corey Rouse finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds to lead East Carolina (8-17, 3-10), which has won only once in 11 road games.
Leather had 12 points and six rebounds in a first half that included six lead changes. The Bulls led 28-24 at the break.
