GREENVILLE, N.C. -- A.J. Davis scored 23 points and UCF held off a late rally by East Carolina to win 71-68 Saturday in an American Athletic Conference opener.

Tanksley Efianayi scored 12 points, including three key free throws down the stretch. Daiquan Walker added 11 points and Adonys Henriquez 10 for UCF (7-5).

Trailing by three at halftime, the Pirates took a 30-28 lead on Prince Williams' layup, then went on a 10-2 run while the Knights made only one field goal in six minutes.

UCF led 63-59 after Henriquez hit a 3 and Walker made a jumper. ECU closed within 66-63 on Williams' layup, and then White hit a 3 with 19 seconds to pull the Pirates within a point. Davis and Efianayi sealed it with two free throws apiece after the teams traded fouls in the final 11 seconds.

B.J. Tyson led ECU (8-6) with 17 and White had 16.