CHARLOTTE, N.C. – RJ Felton scored a game-high 23 points on 7-of-9 shooting from behind the arc as East Carolina rallied in the second half to defeat in-state rival Charlotte, 75-59, on Saturday afternoon at Halton Arena.
Buccaneer Scoreboard – ECU Basketball goes on the road to Charlotte and comes away with a 75-59 road victory. RJ Felton lead all scorers with 23 points on 7-9 shooting from deep. pic.twitter.com/ePLuIYThtj
— Pirate Radio ☠️ (@PR927FM) February 15, 2025
Jordan Riley and C.J. Walker scored 15 and 13 points respectively for the Pirates (15-11, 7-6 AAC) who picked up their third straight conference win for the second time this year and their fourth road win of the season.
Giancarlo Rosado led Charlotte (9-17, 2-11 AAC) with 15 points.
ANOTHA ONE https://t.co/6mZiz81Hiq pic.twitter.com/8yR4gVhkNa
— East Carolina Men’s Basketball (@ecubasketball) February 15, 2025
After Charlotte jumped out an early 7-3 lead, the Pirates answered on a layup from Cam Hayes and a second three-pointer from Felton to go in front 8-7 at the 16:22 mark of the first half. The next three minutes would feature three lead changes and two ties but a scoring drought of 2:47 from ECU would allow Charlotte to hold a 15-13 lead at the second media timeout of the first half.
BAAAAAAANNNNGGG @felton_j1 pic.twitter.com/1q7bmu3uQS
— East Carolina Men’s Basketball (@ecubasketball) February 15, 2025
The Niners maintained their lead throughout the rest of the first half and closed the half on a 6-0 run before Riley grabbed an offensive rebound and scored with under a second left but the Pirates found themselves down at the break, 35-29.
Rim rocking in Charlotte @Cjwalker_14 #1ECU pic.twitter.com/HAiFDiGqj3
— East Carolina Men’s Basketball (@ecubasketball) February 15, 2025
ECU came out of the locker room on fire with a 10-0 run capped by Riley’s layup to go in front 39-37 and the Pirates forced a Charlotte timeout after Yann Farell’s three-pointer at the 10:05 mark of the second half extended ECU’s lead to 53-47.
Jordan Riley with the strong take to the basket gives us the lead #1ECU pic.twitter.com/sKwyCK1oqk
— East Carolina Men’s Basketball (@ecubasketball) February 15, 2025
Charlotte closed within seven points before Felton’s explosion from three-point land began as the senior guard hit three straight from downtown to push ECU’s lead to 14 with four minutes left in the game and Hayes delivered the dagger from distance to send the crowd at Halton Arena heading for the exits.
Jordan Riley beats the first half buzzer pic.twitter.com/QskQuGtmDj
— East Carolina Men’s Basketball (@ecubasketball) February 15, 2025
Game Notes
- RJ Felton has made a field goal in 88 straight games.
- ECU has trailed at the half in their last three games but the Pirates have won all three of those contests.
- The Pirates’ 16-point margin of victory over Charlotte is the largest in the history of the series.
- ECU’s 13 made threes are tied for the most made in a game in the Schwartz era.
- Felton tied his career-high for threes made in a game with seven.
- ECU has won more than three road games in a season for the first time since the 2012-13 season when ECU finished 6-7 on the road.
- The Pirates are 7-1 this season when making more threes than the opposition.
Quick pregame show!🔥#1ECU pic.twitter.com/ZVmBywkH5F
— East Carolina Men’s Basketball (@ecubasketball) February 15, 2025
East Carolina stays on the road as the Pirates visit Tulane on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+.