Pirates Defeat Charlotte On Senior Day, 78-76

Sunday, March 2

Greenville, N.C.

Noon

East Carolina University

17-12,9-7AAC

Charlotte

10-19,3-13AAC

Charlotte

East Carolina

March 02, 2025 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

GREENVILLE, N.C. – RJ Felton scored 27 points as East Carolina survived a last-minute comeback attempt to defeat Charlotte, 78-76, on Sunday afternoon inside Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum.

Jayshayne Woodard added 14 points and five rebounds while Jordan Riley had a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Pirates (17-12, 9-7 AAC) who will have their first winning season since 2012-13.

Nik Graves led Charlotte (10-19, 3-13 AAC) with a game-high 32 points.

After a slow offensive start from both teams, Charlotte jumped out to a 19-14 lead with under eight minutes to go in the first half before the Pirates went on an 11-0 run, led by a flurry of points from Felton, to go in front 25-19 at the 3:20 mark.

The Niners closed the gap before the half as a second-chance basket and a score off a Pirate turnover tied the game at 27-27 going into the break.

After Charlotte scored the opening basket of the second half, the Pirates took control by outscoring Charlotte 21-7 to take a 12-point lead with 13 minutes remaining. ECU maintained its double-digit lead most of the way down the stretch of the second half, but Charlotte found a way to make things interesting cutting ECU's lead to just seven points with 1:14 to go.

Riley hit one of two free throws with 56 seconds left to give ECU a little breathing room at 78-70 but the Niners would come down and hit a three and follow that play up with a steal and another three to pull within two points with 40 seconds left.
After a miss by ECU, Charlotte had one last chance to tie or win the game but Woodard was able to bother Graves' game-winning attempt just enough and Felton secured the rebound and the win for the Pirates.

Game Notes

The starting five of Hayes, Felton, Hayes, Walker and LaBeaux started for the fifth straight game and 17th game this season.
Jordan Riley grabbed a season-high 11 rebounds and recorded his second double-double of the season.
RJ Felton has made a field goal in 91 straight games and passed Sam Hinnant for fourth all-time in career made threes with 224.
The recorded attendance of 5,115 was the largest home crowd of the season for the Pirates.
Three Pirates had two blocks between C.J. Walker, Trevion LaBeaux and Jayshayne Woodard.
ECU improved to 14-4 when winning the rebounding battle.
Cam Hayes' seven rebounds are a season-high.
The nine conference wins for ECU are the most conference wins for the Pirates in any conference since 2012-13 when the Pirates finished 9-7 in Conference USA.