(Above photo: RJ Felton / ECU Sports Information)
The ECU men’s basketball team picked up a big win at home on Sunday, beating UTSA 96-89 in overtime.
The Pirates improved to 16-12 overall, 8-7 in the AAC as RJ Felton scored 30 points, connecting on all five of his 3-pointers.
Below is a full report from ECU Sports Information. Click here to see videos from the game from the ECU Men’s Basketball X page.
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RJ Felton tied his season-high with 30 points, including shooting 5-for-5 from distance, as East Carolina rallied to defeat UTSA, 96-89, in overtime on Sunday afternoon inside Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum.
Jordan Riley added 13 of his 17 points in the second half and overtime and Cam Hayes chipped in with 16 points for the Pirates (16-12, 8-7 AAC) who won their eighth AAC game marking the most conference wins since joining the American.
Primo Spears led UTSA (10-17, 4-11 AAC) with 24 points.
Both teams started the game strong offensively, each going 2-for-3 from behind the arc, going into the first media timeout of the game. Felton began his scoring binge, getting to the free throw line and raining in threes to help the Pirates keep pace with the Roadrunners for most of the first half. In a first half that featured seven ties and 11 lead changes, UTSA scored with two seconds left to go into the half ahead 39-38.
The Roadrunners came out to start the second half on fire, taking their largest lead of the game and forcing a Pirates timeout after a Primo Spears’ three made it 58-49 with 13:34 to go. ECU would not go down easily, outscoring UTSA 22-16 in a stretch where the Pirates made nine straight shots from the floor to hang on to a 68-67 lead with 7:32 remaining.
Both teams traded baskets down the stretch as neither ball club could gain more than three points of separation from the other. UTSA had a chance to win the game but Jayshayne Woodard blocked Marcus Millender’s attempt, sending the game into overtime.
The Pirates scored quickly on a Riley dunk in the extra period and Riley gave ECU a 92-86 lead off of a Roadrunner turnover, forcing UTSA to call a timeout. ECU forced a UTSA miss and Woodard scored quickly with a dunk on the other end to put a bow on the game for the Pirates.
Game Notes
- ECU improved to 2-1 in overtime games this season.
- ECU is 7-1 this year when attempting 30 or more free throws in a game.
- Felton moved to third all-time in scoring at East Carolina with his three-pointer at the 10:06 mark of the first half, passing Sonny Russell who scored 1,653 career points from 1949-53.
- Felton’s 22 first half points were the most points he has scored in a half in his career and was the seventh time in program history that an ECU player has scored 22 points in a half.
- ECU has trailed at the half in its last six games but the Pirates have won five of those games.
- The Pirates’ seven made threes in the first half tied a season-high.
Up Next
East Carolina hosts in-state rival Charlotte on Sunday, Mar. 2 at Noon on ESPN2/U for Senior Day.