The East Carolina men’s basketball team was eliminated from the AAC Tournament after UAB picked up a 94-77 win on Friday.
The Pirates dropped to 19-14 and will await the prospects of any postseason action.
Below is a report from ECU’s Sports Information along with videos from The AAC.
Buccaneer Scoreboard – The best ECU Basketball season in years comes to an end in the second round of the AAC Tournament. pic.twitter.com/0v3gWOOfi5
— Pirate Radio ☠️ (@PR927FM) March 15, 2025
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Photo credit: RJ Felton (ECU Sports Information photo)
FORT WORTH, Texas – RJ Felton scored a season-high 31 points but East Carolina fell 94-77 in the quarterfinals of the American Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Championship at Dickies Arena on Friday night.
Jordan Riley and Cam Hayes each added 11 points for the Pirates (19-14, 10-8 AAC) while C.J. Walker scored 10 points.
Yaxel Lendeborg led UAB (21-11, 13-5 AAC) with 30 points and 20 rebounds.
RJ Felton is on FIREEE🔥
7 points to start the second-half!#AmericanWay x @ecubasketball pic.twitter.com/A3gfU0mhk6
— The American (@American_Conf) March 15, 2025
The Pirates jumped out to a quick 7-2 lead before ECU went 2:25 without a point, allowing UAB to go into the first media timeout ahead 9-7. The Blazers used another scoring run, this time scoring six straight points in a minute, to extend their lead to 15-9 and force a quick ECU timeout.
REVERSE POSTER DUNK 🤯 @JayshayneW #AmericanWay x @ecubasketball pic.twitter.com/jTlg0eRWQF
— The American (@American_Conf) March 15, 2025
After UAB pushed their lead to double digits, the Pirates cut it to eight multiple times but the Blazers had an answer every time to extend their lead. Lendeborg’s three-pointer with 19 seconds left in the half gave the Blazers an 18-point lead but Felton made two free throws right before the end of the half as the Pirates trailed 49-33.
.@TheCamHayes showing off his range 🏹#AmericanWay x @ecubasketball pic.twitter.com/4MB4HH9nHq
— The American (@American_Conf) March 15, 2025
ECU came out of halftime and quickly cut UAB’s lead to 10 but the Pirates could not buy a basket for three minutes and the Blazers were able to maintain their double-digit lead going into the under-12 media timeout of the second half.
Buccaneer Scoreboard – At the half, ECU Basketball trails UAB at the AAC Tournament. pic.twitter.com/ykCvu6ff33
— Pirate Radio ☠️ (@PR927FM) March 15, 2025
The Pirates made one final push with under three minutes to go but were unable to get closer than seven as the Blazers advanced to the semifinals.
Game Notes
- The Pirates’ starting five of Hayes, Felton, Riley, LaBeaux and Walker started their ninth straight game together and 21st of the season.
- The Blazers’ 49 points in the first half are the most points ECU has allowed in a first half this season.
- RJ Felton finishes his ECU career third all-time in scoring and second among D1 players at ECU with 1,774 points. Felton also finishes his career with the fifth most points in AAC basketball history.
- ECU’s 16-point halftime deficit was its second largest of the season.
- Felton became only the sixth Pirate to score 600 or more points in a single season.
- Felton’s 31 points was the most scored by a Pirate in an AAC Tournament game.