It wasn’t as easy as the score indicated, however, with the Pirates trailing by five points at halftime.

They finally got things going in the second half, holding Central Florida to just 21 points after the break.

Darrius Morrow lead the Pirates with 18 points and 12 rebounds. Jamar Abrams added 15 before fouling out.

The win keps East Carolina alive for a possible conference tournament title and automatic NCAA berth.

East Carolina couldn’t stay out of their own way, turning the ball over time and time again and giving Maryland easy scoring opportunities.

The Pirates went into halftime with just three points on the scoreboard, and by the time they got going, it was too late.

To their credit, the school brought a large number of fans to RFK stadium to cheer on their team.

The game featured plenty of flags for late hits and taunting between two teams that had to be separated at a dinner the day before the game.

There is no denying the East Carolina Pirates can score with anybody. But keeping the opposition out of the end zone is a problem.

Despite losing four of its final five, East Carolina did enough to earn a berth in the Military Bowl. The Pirates will face Maryland on Dec. 29 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.

East Carolina (6-6) also features a big-time talent at quarterback in Dominique Davis. The junior passed for 3,699 yards, 36 touchdowns and 358 completions, all school records. Davis helped the Pirates finish seventh in the nation in passing offense and average 38.2 points per game.

Maryland has enjoyed a resurgence this season, turning the program around from two wins last season to eight wins in 2010. The Terps missed qualifying for the ACC championship game by one game. Head coach Ralph Friedgen won coach of the year, and quarterback Danny O’Brien won the ACC’s rookie-of-the-year award.

But the Pirates gave up 43.4 points per contest and 478.8 yards, the worst in all of FBS.

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East Carolina scored three touchdowns in the first quarter to take a 21-0 lead, but NC State responded and trailed by just three at halftime.

The second half saw both teams settle down defensively, and only nine points were scored between the two teams.

The game went to overtime, with Domonique Davis rushed for a one-year touchdown to give the Pirates the lead.

The team missed the subsequent extra point, which could have been disatrous if the defense didn’t stop the Wolfpack on the following possession.

Last year the Pirates went 7-1 in their conference to win the East Division. It was also the best record out of any of the teams in the conference.

Out of conference, it was a much different story. The team went just 2-4, which is disappointing by their standards.

It is important to note that East Carolina does put some formidable out of conference opponents on their schedule.

This year, the Pirates will once again face off against the Virginia Tech Hokies, as well as fellow ACC foes North Carolina and North Carolina State.

The East Carolina Pirates come into the 2010 season carrying the banner as defending Conference USA champions. But replacing nine starters on defense and 15 overall will be the key to any repeat hopes.

ECU finished 9-5 last season and 7-1 in conference action, downing Houston in the C-USA championship game. The season ended with a 20-17 overtime loss to Arkansas in the Liberty Bowl, a game in which the Pirates missed four field goals.

First-year head coach Ruffin McNeill installed the spread offense and the 4-3 defense during spring practice for a team that will rely heavily on sophomores and juniors in 2010: 52 percent of the Pirates’ spring roster was comprised of sophomores and juniors.

ECU must replace its entire defensive line and linebackers, and half of its secondary. Only cornerbacks Emanuel Davis and Travis Simmons return as starters. Offensively, three starters are back on the offensive line, but the Pirates are looking for new starters to step up at the skill positions.

The Pirates open the season with two home games, against Tulsa and Memphis. Then comes three tough road games: at Virginia Tech, at North Carolina and at Southern Miss. Three of the next four are at home, with consecutive home games against N.C. State and Marshall, a trip to Central Florida, and a visit from Navy. Road games are next at UAB and Rice before the regular-season finale at home against SMU.

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