The East Carolina men’s basketball team dropped its first game of the season on Friday, losing at Richmond, 87-72.
Below is more from ECU Sports Information.
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Photo credit: Giovanni Emejuru (ECU Sports Information)
RICHMOND, Va. — Giovanni Emejuru had a double-double with a game-high 20 points and 13 rebounds but East Carolina fell at Richmond, 87-72, on Saturday evening at the Robins Center.
Jordan Riley added 18 points and six rebounds for the Pirates (1-1) who were looking to win their first game at Richmond since 1995.
Jonathan Beagle led Richmond (2-0) with 15 points.
Corey Caulker got the Pirates on the board first with a tough, contested pullup after ECU had secured two offensive rebounds to keep their opening possession alive. Riley made a tough two of his own at the 14:58 mark of the half, followed by Jayshayne Woodard’s turnaround jumper that gave ECU a 10-5 lead with 14 minutes to go in the first half.
Neither team could buy a shot for three minutes going into the second media timeout of the half but a 12-1 run from Richmond gave the Spiders the lead for the first time. Riley snapped the near five-minute scoring drought for the Pirates but Richmond quickly came down the floor to drain a three and extend their lead to 12, forcing a quick timeout from ECU.
The Pirates cut the Spiders’ lead to nine multiple times down the stretch of the first half but Richmond maintained control holding a 42-30 lead going into the break.
Richmond’s Will Johnston drained a three at the start of the second half to extend the Spiders’ lead to 15 but the Pirates showed fight as Emejuru’s second chance basket pulled ECU within single digits at the 17:38 mark of the second half.
ECU was unable to get any closer than nine the rest of the way as Richmond went up by as much as 21 to pick up its second win of the season.
Up Next
East Carolina hosts Elizabeth City State on Thursday night at 7 p.m. on ESPN+.