EAST HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) Arkeel Newsome had a 90-yard touchdown run in the third quarter to help break open a close game and UConn beat East Carolina 31-13 on Friday night.
Newsome, who also had a 2-yard touchdown run, had 244 all-purpose yards, including 179 yards rushing for Connecticut (4-5, 2-3 American). The Huskies had lost five of their previous six games.
Bryant Shirreffs completed 12 of 21 passes for 184 yards with one passing touchdown and one rushing TD.
Marquez Grayson ran for a career-high 87 yards for East Carolina (4-5, 2-3), which has lost three of its last four.
James Summers was 12 of 27 for 87 yards for the Pirates before giving way to Blake Kemp in the fourth quarter. Kemp ran for a 2-yard touchdown but threw three of East Carolina's four interceptions.
Both teams need two wins in their final three games to become bowl eligible.
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