HOUSTON (AP) -- All the time Anthony Adams and his defensive mates spent on the field paid off in the end.

Outgained by a wide margin, No. 17 East Carolina bent but didn't break and finally put Houston away Saturday when Adams returned a late fourth-quarter interception 55 yards for a touchdown and a 19-3 victory.

	East Carolina's Keith Stokes caught a 36-yard TD pass for the Pirates in the first quarter Saturday.

"We told the defense a long time ago that if they did not give up long plays and were on the field long enough, they would get the big play," East Carolina coach Steve Logan said.

East Carolina (7-1, 3-1 Conference USA) led most of the game despite being outgained 363 yards to 223, but couldn't close out Houston until Adams snared Jason McKinley's pass, eluded traffic and stumbled into the end zone as three Houston defenders met him there.

Houston (4-4, 2-2) might have been closer in the waning minutes had East Carolina not blocked two field goal attempts by Mike Clark earlier in the game. Houston blocked a field goal of its own and two low extra point tries by emergency kicker Andrew Bayes.

Bayes, the nation's leading punter, was pressed into kicking service because Kevin Miller had an injured right leg.

"Obviously very disappointing is the domination of the kicking game," Houston coach Kim Helton said.

Houston held the ball over nine minutes longer than East Carolina, but did less with it.

Houston had five turnovers, including three interceptions by McKinley. East Carolina gave it back four times in conditions that ranged over time from muggy to windy to rainy.

"As well as our defense played today, theirs played that much better," said Houston defensive lineman Adriano Belli, who recovered an early fumble. "It was horrible."

David Garrard ran for one touchdown and threw for one, but also had three interceptions.

Orlando Iglesias had 12 catches for 130 yards for Houston, while Mike Green and Ketric Sanford each ran for 72. Sanford, who had rushed for at least 100 yards in three straight games, got most of his production after being smothered in the first half.

"Shutting down Sanford was huge," Logan said. "He is as good running back as there is in the conference and one of the best in the country."

Houston took its only lead midway into the first quarter after Garrard lost the ball deep in East Carolina territory. Houston got the ball at the 15 and moved backward two yards before Clark's 35-yard field goal.

Garrard retaliated quickly, hitting Keith Stokes in stride on a 36-yard touchdown pass to the left side.

Bayes' rust as a placekicker showed on a late first-quarter field goal attempt, which was low enough to be blocked by Nate Williams.

East Carolina played three quarters with the wind because of a cool front that blew through Houston as the second period began. Rain arrived in the second half and grew in intensity as the game wore on, driving many of the 14,221 fans from their seats.