Defensive-minded Arkansas-Little Rock continued its surprisingly successful start Thursday at the Las Vegas Invitational, clamping down on East Carolina for a 54-46 win at Orleans Arena.

In improving to 4-0, the Trojans held the Pirates (2-3) to 31 percent shooting from the field and forced 22 turnovers, converting those into 24 points. East Carolina managed just 16 shots from the field in the second half, making only four.

UALR trailed 23-15 at halftime but gradually reeled East Carolina in, taking the lead for good with 9:59 left on a 3-pointer by guard Kemy Osse. The Trojans nursed that lead to the finish despite making only 26.3 percent of their shots from the field, compensating for that by sinking 20 of 22 foul shots.

Guards Marcus Johnson and Josh Hagins scored 13 and 11 points, respectively, to pace UALR, combining to drain six straight free throws in the final minute.

The Trojans, who were 13-18 last year, were tabbed for a fourth-place finish in the Sun Belt Conference but already own a win at Mountain West Conference favorite San Diego State.

Guard B.J. Tyson had 12 points and eight rebounds to pace East Carolina, which lost despite outrebounding UALR 44-21.