Tarik Black finished with 12 points and seven rebounds and Will Coleman added 11 points as No. 22 Memphis held off East Carolina, 61-58, on Saturday in the Conference-USA opener for both clubs.

Memphis (12-3, 1-0 C-USA) hit just 2 of 13 3-pointers and struggled from the free throw line as well, needing to hold the Pirates to 37.5 percent shooting and force 20 turnovers in the tight win.

East Carolina actually jumped out to a 10-3 lead, before going the next 8:21 without a field goal while Memphis surged ahead. The Tigers extended that run out to a 19-4 burst and cruised into the break with a 33-21 edge.

The Pirates (8-7, 0-1) came out on fire in the second half, hitting five of their first six shots, including three 3-pointers, to pull within 41-34. Memphis managed to hold ECU off until the 7:59 mark, when Brook Young’s 3-pointer knotted it at 49-49. East Carolina briefly held the lead and tied it again with 3:51 left before going scoreless for the next 3:48.

The Tigers have dominated C-USA over the last several seasons and have only one other ranked competitor in No. 19 Central Florida in their way this season.