The ECU men’s basketball team began its two-game road trip with a loss on Wednesday at Wichita State. Below are more details from ECU Sports Information.
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Photo credit: (ECU Sports Information)
WICHITA, Kan. – Jordan Riley scored a team-high 15 points but East Carolina could not overcome a slow start as the Pirates fell 77-60 to Wichita State on Wednesday night at Charles Koch Arena.
Demitri Gardner added 14 points and Giovanni Emejuru had a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds for the Pirates (5-14, 0-6 American) who have dropped their seventh game in a row.
Kenyon Giles led Wichita State (12-8, 4-3 American) with 27 points.
The Shockers scored the game’s first five points until Gardner got the Pirates on the board with a floater at 18:28 in the first half. Wichita State’s hot start continued into the first media timeout as the Shockers hit their next four shots to take a 14-6 lead.
Wichita State continued their offensive onslaught as Giles’ long range three-pointer gave the home team a 25-8 lead with 13:11 left in the first half. Back-to-back baskets from Emejuru gave the Pirates a little momentum but the Shockers would still maintain a double-digit lead at the 7:35 mark of the first half.
East Carolina closed the gap to 12 after two free throws by Eli DeLaurier and the Pirates would head into the locker room down 44-32.
Much like the start of the first half, Wichita State scored the first five points before Corey Caulker hit a three at the 17:59 mark of the second half. The Pirates closed within 12 points again but Wichita State remained in control with an 18-point lead at just under 12 minutes remaining and the Shockers would cruise down the stretch of the second half.
Up Next
East Carolina concludes its road trip at North Texas on Friday at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN+.