Saturday, December 6
Greenville, N.C.
4:00 p.m.
East Carolina University
3-6,0-0American
78
vs
82
UNC Greensboro
2-8,0-0SoCon
1
2
F
UNC Greensboro
41
41
82
East Carolina
33
45
78
Pirates Come Up Short Against UNCG, 82-78
December 06, 2025 | Men's Basketball
GREENVILLE, N.C. – Jordan Riley scored a game-high 25 points and grabbed nine rebounds but East Carolina fell short to UNCG, 82-78, inside Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum on Saturday evening.
Giovanni Emejuru recorded his fourth double-double of the season with 15 points and 12 rebounds for the Pirates (3-6) who were unable to overcome 15 turnovers and 13 points scored by UNCG off those giveaways.
Justin Neely led UNCG (2-8) with 23 points while Lilian Marville added 22 points.
The Spartans struck first as Noah Norgaard took the opening tip for a layup in the game's first five seconds. ECU responded with an 8-2 run capped off by a three from Jayshayne Woodard to take a 10-4 lead with 16 minutes to go in the half. The Pirates would hit their next three shots to build their lead to 17-8 but the Spartans took advantage of some ECU miscues and went on a 13-4 spurt to retake the lead at 23-21 on Justin Neely's layup with just over eight minutes left in the half.
After going back-and-forth on the next possessions, UNCG controlled the remainder of the first half and went into the half ahead 41-33.
UNCG took its largest lead of the game at 46-34 with 18 minutes to go in the second half but ECU closed the gap to six going into the first media timeout of the second half with a 6-0 run and by forcing three UNCG turnovers in a two-minute span.
The Pirates eventually tied the game at 63 on Riley's second chance basket with 4:16 remaining, forcing a Spartans timeout, but UNCG scored out of the timeout to go back in front 65-63. Corey Caulker tied the game at 65 on ECU's next possession but UNCG took the lead and held it for good on back-to-back baskets from Neely.
Up Next
East Carolina hosts App State on Thursday at 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
Giovanni Emejuru recorded his fourth double-double of the season with 15 points and 12 rebounds for the Pirates (3-6) who were unable to overcome 15 turnovers and 13 points scored by UNCG off those giveaways.
Justin Neely led UNCG (2-8) with 23 points while Lilian Marville added 22 points.
The Spartans struck first as Noah Norgaard took the opening tip for a layup in the game's first five seconds. ECU responded with an 8-2 run capped off by a three from Jayshayne Woodard to take a 10-4 lead with 16 minutes to go in the half. The Pirates would hit their next three shots to build their lead to 17-8 but the Spartans took advantage of some ECU miscues and went on a 13-4 spurt to retake the lead at 23-21 on Justin Neely's layup with just over eight minutes left in the half.
After going back-and-forth on the next possessions, UNCG controlled the remainder of the first half and went into the half ahead 41-33.
UNCG took its largest lead of the game at 46-34 with 18 minutes to go in the second half but ECU closed the gap to six going into the first media timeout of the second half with a 6-0 run and by forcing three UNCG turnovers in a two-minute span.
The Pirates eventually tied the game at 63 on Riley's second chance basket with 4:16 remaining, forcing a Spartans timeout, but UNCG scored out of the timeout to go back in front 65-63. Corey Caulker tied the game at 65 on ECU's next possession but UNCG took the lead and held it for good on back-to-back baskets from Neely.
Up Next
East Carolina hosts App State on Thursday at 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
Â
Team Stats
UNCG
ECU
FG%
.475
.477
3FG%
.238
.250
FT%
.875
.625
RB
28
38
TO
11
15
STL
6
4
Game Leaders
Pts
25
FGM
9
3FGM
0
FTM
7
Pts
15
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballC
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballMBB ECU vs UMES Post
Wednesday, December 03
12/02/25 Inside Pirate Athletics
Tuesday, December 02
Mike Schwartz ECU vs UNCW post
Wednesday, November 19
ECU MBB GA Southern Post
Wednesday, November 05
