Pirates defeat Temple in thrilling fashion, 80-79

by | Jan 9, 2025

By ECUPirates.com

Jayshayne Woodard scored a season-high 15 points and hit the go-ahead shot with 10 seconds left as East Carolina snapped a three-game skid with an 80-79 victory over Temple on Wednesday night inside Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum.

RJ Felton scored a game-high 23 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for the Pirates (9-7, 1-2 AAC) and C.J. Walker added 18 points and nine boards despite battling foul trouble most of the night.

Jamal Mashburn Jr. led Temple (9-6, 1-1 AAC) with 22 points.

The Pirates got off to a fast start offensively, making four of their first seven shots including three from beyond the arc to jump out to an early 11-8 lead at the first media timeout. ECU’s early offensive momentum would stall as the Pirates’ five-minute scoring drought coupled with Temple’s 11-0 run led to a 12-point swing with the Owls in front 24-20 at the under-eight media timeout of the first half.

ECU would finally break out of its scoring slump with back-to-back baskets from Walker to cut Temple’s lead to 27-24 but the graduate forward would pick up his third foul with five minutes remaining, putting the Pirates’ second-leading scorer on the bench for the reminder of the half. Temple took advantage outscoring ECU 14-8 to take a 41-32 lead at the break.

The Owls pushed their lead to as much as 10 with 15 minutes left in the game before the Pirates mounted their rally and slowly chipped away at Temple’s lead before retaking the lead on a block from Woodard that resulted in a fastbreak dunk from the junior. Both teams exchanged leads before Temple went in front down the stretch and took a three-point lead with 48 seconds left.

ECU would force an errant inbounds from Temple and Felton quickly scored to make the score 79-78 and the Owls missed the front end of a one-and-one free throw to give the Pirates one last chance to win the game. Woodard grabbed the rebound from the missed free throw and after the Owls denied Felton the ball, Woodard split the defense and used every bit of his length to get his shot over the defense to put ECU back in front, 80-79.

Temple got the ball down the court quickly but the Owls’ last-second layup hung on the rim and fell off as the loose ball went off an Owls’ jersey and the Pirates were able to throw the inbounds pass down the floor to run the clock out.

Game Notes

  • Wednesday night was the third game this year that two Pirates have recorded a double-double in the same game and ECU is 3-0 in those games.
  • ECU has outrebounded its last two opponents by a double-digit margin.
  • RJ Felton recorded his seventh 20-point game of the season and 23rd of his career.
  • The Pirates have attempted 10 or more shots than their opponent in five games with a 4-1 mark in those contests.
  • ECU has defeated Temple in three straight games for the first time in series history.
  • The Pirates won their first game of the season when trailing at the half after losing the previous four when down at the break.

Up Next
East Carolina hits the road to face No. 19 Memphis on Saturday at 2 p.m. ET on ESPN+.

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