Rice @ East Carolina preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 22, 2014 ) Rice 55, East Carolina 67

East Carolina meets Rice on Sunday in the third-place game of the Islands of the Bahamas Showcase, in a matchup of teams that fell too far behind during their semifinal contests. The Pirates trailed Missouri-Kansas City by 16 points at halftime and closed to within four before losing 74-68 and stopping all the momentum gained from an 85-68 victory over Evansville in Friday's first round.

Sophomore forward Jayden Gardner, East Carolina's top scorer and rebounder, recorded 13 points and 11 rebounds for his third consecutive double-double. The Owls lost to undefeated Liberty 71-59 in Saturday's semifinals after defeating Milwaukee 75-69 on Friday. Rice played both games without leading scorer Trey Murphy III, who was injured in Tuesday's 97-89 loss to Houston and was in a walking boot. "I thought our guys really battled,'' Rice coach Scott Pera told reporters after his club trailed by 25 in the second half. "... We just dug too big a hole.''

TV: 5 p.m. ET, No TV

ABOUT RICE (5-3): Murphy, a sophomore guard and reigning Conference USA Player of the Week, averages 14.5 points with 11 versus Houston and a total of 43 in the previous two games - road wins at UC Santa Barbara and Northwestern State. Senior forward Robert Martin (11.3 points) scored 19 versus Liberty and has 54 in his last three games. Senior guard Ako Adams averages 11 after scoring five Saturday - a form reversal after he totaled 34 against Milwaukee and Houston.

ABOUT EAST CAROLINA (2-4): Gardner (20.2 points, 9.7 rebounds) is also shooting 56.8 percent from the field. Freshman forward Brandon Suggs (11.3 points) has reached double figures in his last four games after scoring a team-high 14 on Saturday. Freshman guard Tristen Newton averages a team-high 3.8 assists after recording four versus UMKC while adding six points and four rebounds.

TIP-INS

1. The Pirates were 4-for-19 from 3-point range Saturday and are shooting 27.6 percent from beyond the arc this season.

2. Rice has a minus-3 turnover margin and shoots 34.7 from 3-point range after going 10-for-31 on Saturday.

3. East Carolina won the last six meetings before leaving C-USA for the American Athletic Conference after the 2013-14 season.

PREDICTION: East Carolina 73, Rice 68