BOTTOM LINE: East Carolina and UTSA play in the AAC Tournament. The Pirates are 10-8 against AAC opponents and 8-5 in non-conference play. East Carolina is fourth in the AAC in rebounding averaging 34.5 rebounds. RJ Felton paces the Pirates with 6.5 boards.

In the moments following a win against Rice on March 2, as UTSA celebrated a victory for the first time in more than a month, coach Austin Claunch carried a confidence that remained unshaken. “We plan on going to win this conference tournament,

BOTTOM LINE: UTSA takes on Rice in the AAC Tournament. The Roadrunners are 17-1 against AAC opponents and 9-2 in non-conference play. The Owls are 8-11 in AAC play. Rice ranks eighth in the AAC shooting 30.8% from 3-point range.

The No. 6 seed East Carolina Pirates (18-13, 10-8 AAC) are squaring off against the No. 11 seed UTSA Roadrunners (12-18, 6-12 AAC) in the AAC Tournament on Thursday at Dickies Arena. Watch the

Joran Riley totaled 22 points and 12 rebounds to propel East Carolina to a 70-65 victory over UTSA in the second round of the American Athletic Conference Tournament on Thursday night.

As UTSA’s Austin Claunch wiped away a tear with his thumb, guard Primo Spears reached over to put a reassuring hand on his coach’s shoulder. A few feet away, guard Marcus Millender buried his face in his hands.