By ECUPirates.com and PIrate Radio
RJ Felton added 20 points and 13 rebounds for the Pirates (9-8, 1-3 AAC) who were looking for their first road win against an AP-ranked team in program history.
PJ Haggerty led Memphis (13-3, 3-0 AAC) with a game-high 25 points.
AND ONE
TIE GAME@Cjwalker_14 pic.twitter.com/goBAL8qv6s
— East Carolina Men’s Basketball (@ecubasketball) January 11, 2025
ECU came out strong defensively, holding the high-powered Tigers offense to just five points in the first four minutes, but the Pirates couldn’t buy a basket, missing all eight of their shots before the first media timeout.
Felton would finally break the seal on the basket for the Pirates with a driving layup at the 14:19 mark of the first half and the senior would score the first six Pirate points until Trevion LaBeaux converted a tough layup with 10 minutes to go in the half.
The steal + the perfect bounce pass + the layup + foul is what Naismith envisioned #SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/lNrqUIC7wE
— East Carolina Men’s Basketball (@ecubasketball) January 11, 2025
Memphis countered the Pirates’ 7-2 run with an 8-0 run to extend their lead to 19-9 at the seven-minute mark of the first half. The Tigers’ increased their first-half lead to 27-9 but the Pirates wouldn’t give in as a 10-0 spurt, capped off with back-to-back three-pointers from Walker, cut Memphis’ lead to 27-19 with 3:40 until the half.
In a first half full of runs, the Tigers outscored the Pirates 10-5 in the final three minutes to go into the half ahead 38-24.
RJ FELTON pic.twitter.com/OaONuFHplD
— East Carolina Men’s Basketball (@ecubasketball) January 11, 2025
ECU came out of the locker room with a flurry as back-to-back steals and scores from Riley ignited an ECU run as the Pirates pulled within five points but five turnovers within three minutes would allow Memphis to regain control of the game.
The Pirates’ resolve would not waver as ECU clawed back again, cutting the lead to four after baskets from Walker and Felton and the Pirates would get within two points on a three-point play from Walker that made the score 52-50 with eight and a half minutes to go.
“It was eerily similar to last year” Penny Hardaway said, referring to the South Florida game. The difference? “We got guys that can finish the game.”
Story on Memphis’ escape over ECU on Saturday afternoonhttps://t.co/OjDvjnOISS
— Robert Randall (@rtrandall15) January 11, 2025
ECU tied the game at 68-68 with 1:11 remaining after another three-point play from Walker but the Tigers made all their free throws down the stretch to prevent the Pirates from pulling off a stunning win.
.@JayshayneW gets the floater to fall and it’s a 7-0 Pirates run to begin the 2nd half #1ECU pic.twitter.com/5Hf3TbvcjS
— East Carolina Men’s Basketball (@ecubasketball) January 11, 2025
Game Notes
- ECU’s nine first half turnovers tied for the most giveaways by the Pirates in a first half this season. The other game that the Pirates had nine first half turnovers in was against Mount Olive, a 110-73 ECU win.
- C.J. Walker tied his career-high for threes made in a game with two against Memphis.
- RJ Felton recorded back-to-back double-doubles for the second time this season.
- Felton has scored 20 or more points in eight games this year and 24 games in his career.
- The Pirates have won the rebounding battle in their last four contests after beating Memphis on the glass, 40-36.
- Jordan Riley has recorded a steal in seven straight games and in six of those games he has tallied multiple steals after recording three on Saturday.
- Trevion LaBeaux posted season-highs in steals (three) and blocks (three).
East Carolina faces a quick turnaround as the Pirates host North Texas on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
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