GREENVILLE, N.C. – C.J. Walker scored a game-high 21 points and grabbed 13 rebounds but the Pirates could not come up with a game-tying or game-winning shot in the final seconds, losing to Florida Atlantic 78-76 inside Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum on Sunday afternoon.
Jordan Riley added 19 points, nine rebounds and five steals for the Pirates (8-7, 0-2 AAC) who have lost six of their last seven games. RJ Feltonadded 15 points in his first game off the bench since Jan. 15, 2023 against South Florida and Jayshayne Woodardrecorded 10 points and five rebounds in his second start of the season.
Ken Evans Jr. and Tre Carroll each scored 17 points to lead Florida Atlantic (8-7, 1-1 AAC).
We’ll be back in Minges on Wednesday pic.twitter.com/KZ3GhWsTu3
— East Carolina Men’s Basketball (@ecubasketball) January 5, 2025
The Owls blitzed the Pirates with an early 10-2 run as ECU missed eight of its first nine shots of the game to find itself trailing 15-2 at the 14:56 mark of the first half. ECU would whittle the deficit to six with a 7-2 spurt capped off by a putback slam from Walker to force an FAU timeout with 12:14 remaining in the half.
Every game Jordan Riley has another impressive slam #1ECU pic.twitter.com/SugllZ6sB4
— East Carolina Men’s Basketball (@ecubasketball) January 5, 2025
Florida Atlantic came out of the timeout and nailed three shots from behind the arc to push the lead back to 13 before the Pirates went on a 9-0 run to close within four after a Woodard three-pointer at the 5:14 mark. ECU would get to within two points twice in the final two minutes of the half but the Owls would hold a 40-36 halftime lead.
.@Cjwalker_14 lays it in and gives us our first lead of the afternoon#1ECU pic.twitter.com/uiO0LELfqn
— East Carolina Men’s Basketball (@ecubasketball) January 5, 2025
The Pirates battled coming out of the locker room and took their first lead of the game on a second chance basket from Walker to make the score 50-48 with 14 minutes left in the game. ECU took its largest lead of five after a Felton layup made it 57-52 but the Owls used an 8-1 run to recapture the lead with 9:24 to go.
.@TheCamHayes drills the deep three and we’re tied up inside Minges #1ECU pic.twitter.com/nQ657gIfre
— East Carolina Men’s Basketball (@ecubasketball) January 5, 2025
Down four with five minutes to go, ECU took the momentum after a Yann Farell three and a thunderous slam from Riley put the Pirates back in front, 68-67, with 4:45 remaining. Florida Atlantic would make back-breaking shots down the stretch but the Pirates had one final chance after a steal from Woodard but ECU missed all three chances to send the game to overtime or win it at the buzzer.
That and-one was earned by Jordan Riley#1ECU pic.twitter.com/pgjWyPeJIV
— East Carolina Men’s Basketball (@ecubasketball) January 5, 2025
Game Notes
- Jordan Riley tied a career-high in steals with five and has recorded five steals twice this season.
- C.J. Walker scored 20-plus points for the seventh time this season and the seventh time of his career.
- Yann Farell made his first start of the year for the Pirates.
- ECU has forced its opponent into 10 or more turnovers in nine straight games.
- The Pirates’ 25 offensive rebounds were a season high.
- ECU has lost all four games when trailing at the half this year.
.@Cjwalker_14 cleaning up the offensive boards #1ECU pic.twitter.com/udd5vdjKeU
— East Carolina Men’s Basketball (@ecubasketball) January 5, 2025
East Carolina remains at home as the Pirates host Temple on Wednesday at 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
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