Friday, March 14
Fort Worth, Texas
9:00 p.m.
East Carolina University
19-14,10-8AAC
77
vs
94
UAB
21-11,13-5AAC
1
2
F
East Carolina
33
44
77
UAB
49
45
94
Pirates Fall To UAB In AAC Quarterfinals, 94-77
March 15, 2025 | Men's Basketball
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.
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.Â
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.
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.
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
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.
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.Â
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.
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.
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.
Team Stats
ECU
UAB
FG%
.439
.507
3FG%
.400
.350
FT%
.818
.864
RB
29
43
TO
9
6
STL
5
8
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Pts
10
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballF
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