C.J. Walker scored 18 points and Cam Hayes added 17 points but East Carolina could not overcome a 14-point first half deficit as the Pirates came up short at home to North Alabama, 74-67, on Wednesday evening inside Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum.
WATCH: ECU Basketball Coach Mike Schwartz on the loss to North Alabama – “This has nothing to do with North Alabama. That’s a very good ball club. It’s a very good team. Coach Pujol is a heck of a coach. I mean, ton of respect for them. We are not a very good team right now. As… pic.twitter.com/GK1sw5jv7V
— Pirate Radio ☠️ (@PR927FM) December 12, 2024
Yann Farell added 10 points for the Pirates (7-4) who dropped their third straight game and shot under 30 percent from behind the arc for the third straight game as well.
Jacari Lane led North Alabama (7-4) with 19 points and Taye Fields nearly recorded a triple-double with 12 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists.
Final from Minges pic.twitter.com/0eLfibI81V
— East Carolina Men’s Basketball (@ecubasketball) December 12, 2024
The Pirates jumped out to a 9-3 lead behind six quick points from Walker and a three from Hayes but ECU would hit just two of their next nine shots to allow the Lions to stay close going into the second media timeout of the first half.
Final from Minges pic.twitter.com/0eLfibI81V
— East Carolina Men’s Basketball (@ecubasketball) December 12, 2024
North Alabama retook the lead and went ahead 19-15 at the 10:30 mark after back-to-back threes from Lane. The Lions increased their first half lead to 32-18 with an 11-1 run and had the Pirates facing their largest first half deficit of the season of 14 points at the break.
OH MY THIS CHASE DOWN PIN BY @felton_j1 pic.twitter.com/IVvbsgiRVR
— East Carolina Men’s Basketball (@ecubasketball) December 12, 2024
ECU’s deficit would increase to 15 at the start of the second half after another Lions three-pointer but the Pirates battled back with a 7-0 spurt coupled with UNA going scoreless for five minutes to cut the Lions’ lead to just six.
.@Cjwalker_14 rocking the rim to get us going tonight #1ECU pic.twitter.com/mfVpkDgxqI
— East Carolina Men’s Basketball (@ecubasketball) December 12, 2024
Down the stretch, North Alabama sank their free throws to hold the Pirates at bay and pick up the seven-point win.
Time to work🏴☠️#1ECU pic.twitter.com/Pu0eOvSIiY
— East Carolina Men’s Basketball (@ecubasketball) December 11, 2024
Up Next
East Carolina remains at home for the second contest of its three-game homestand as the Pirates face FIU on Tuesday, Dec. 17 at 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
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