GREENVILLE — B.J. Tyson scored 21 points and Caleb White added 20 and seven rebounds to lead East Carolina past UNCW 78-73 inside Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum Wednesday night.

East Carolina (7-4) extended its non-conference unbeaten streak at home to 11 games and snapped a two-game losing streak to UNCW (5-2), while earning its first win over the Seahawks in Greenville since Dec. 31, 2005.

Kentrell Barkley added 15 points off the bench for ECU and Michael Zangari had 11, including a pair of 3-pointers. Barkley led the Pirates with eight rebounds and dished out five assists.

The back and forth affair featured six ties and 11 lead changes, eight of which came during the opening half.

Amidst the first half action were a total of 33 fouls called, including 22 against UNCW with three of those being of the technical variety. ECU was also whistled for one during the frame.

UNCW’s bench was issued the first tech with 4:44 to play with the Seahawks up by eight. Less than 20 seconds later, Tyson and UNCW senior Chris Flemmings were charged with a double technical before Seahawk sophomore Jordon Talley received one with 1:00 left in the half.

East Carolina converted 18 of 29 free throws before intermission and trailed 39-34.

The Seahawks took a 43-34 lead after Dylan Sherwood’s layup with 17:42 to play in the game.

However a Tyson layup 24 seconds later triggered a 19-8 run for the Pirates to put them up for good at 53-51 with 10:20 remaining. Zangari’s 3-pointer gave East Carolina a 58-51 lead that was punctuated by a Tyson highlight dunk less than a minute later.

Flemmings’ two free throws trimmed the Pirates’ lead to 73-70 with 28 seconds left, but East Carolina shot 5 for 5 from the free throw line down the stretch to seal the game.

Flemmings, who was issued the team’s fourth technical foul of the game in the second half, led the Seahawks with 16 points off the bench.

After missing 11 first half free throws, the Pirates sank 17 of 22 in the second and finished 35 of 51 overall. ECU also shot the ball much better from the floor after halftime connecting on 12 of 24 (.500) attempts after going 8 of 20 in the first half.

The Pirates’ zone defense forced UNCW into a horrific shooting night outside the arc with the Seahawks making just 3 of 25 (.120) attempts.

Its final made 3 came with six seconds to play, setting the final score.