COLUMBIA, S.C. – Jordan Riley scored a team-high 18 points but East Carolina could not overcome 12 made three-pointers from South Carolina as the Gamecocks defeated the Pirates 75-68 on Saturday afternoon at Colonial Life Arena.
Final from Columbia pic.twitter.com/Njq5cd3lWX
— East Carolina Men’s Basketball (@ecubasketball) December 7, 2024
RJ Felton bounced back with a 15-point, five-rebound performance and C.J. Walker added 14 points and six boards for the Pirates (7-3) in their first true road game of the season.
From the half!🏴☠️#1ECU pic.twitter.com/faJNDBIjSb
— East Carolina Men’s Basketball (@ecubasketball) December 7, 2024
Jamarii Thomas led South Carolina (6-3) with 22 points and Collin Murray-Boyles recorded a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds on 10-of-10 shooting from the floor.
Yann Farell with the big time 3 to answer the Gamecocks run #1ECU pic.twitter.com/2lVOvhgRCS
— East Carolina Men’s Basketball (@ecubasketball) December 7, 2024
Both teams got off to a slow start offensively, combining to go 4-for-14 in the first five minutes of the game. A 12-3 run by the Pirates would open ECU’s lead to 18-7 with 8:37 remaining in the first half but the Gamecocks’ offense would catch fire in the latter stages of the first half as South Carolina made six straight shots to trim the Pirates’ lead to two.
No stopping @TheCamHayes 😤#1ECU pic.twitter.com/Qxqx60yBGT
— East Carolina Men’s Basketball (@ecubasketball) December 7, 2024
Yann Farell would silence the crowd and the Gamecocks’ run with a three-pointer as ECU would go into the half with a 32-27 lead.
.@felton_j1 doing RJ Felton things #1ECU pic.twitter.com/v7YCGii4o6
— East Carolina Men’s Basketball (@ecubasketball) December 7, 2024
South Carolina opened the second half with an 8-2 run to retake the lead going into the first media timeout while the Pirates’ went without a field goal for over four minutes after scoring on the opening possession of the half.
.@Cjwalker_14 sends this shot back into the student section 😅#1ECU pic.twitter.com/v65sPS4L7K
— East Carolina Men’s Basketball (@ecubasketball) December 7, 2024
The game would start to get away from the Pirates after the Gamecocks made threes on four consecutive possessions to push their advantage to 57-44. ECU would cut the deficit to single digits at the 3:51 mark but the Pirates would get no closer than seven.
it’s a one-man show so far as Jordan Riley has all six of the Pirates points#1ECU pic.twitter.com/7TiJu9Do96
— East Carolina Men’s Basketball (@ecubasketball) December 7, 2024
Game Notes
- Saturday’s game was the first loss of the season where Felton, Riley and Walker each score in double figures.
- The Pirates were outscored from behind the arc by 24 points, making only four threes compared to South Carolina’s 12.
- The 12 three-pointers were the most allowed by ECU this season.
- ECU is 0-2 when their opponent shoots 50 percent or better from the floor this year.
Up Next
East Carolina returns home to face North Alabama for the first of a three-game homestand on Wednesday at 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
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