Pirates Outlast North Texas, 63-59

Friday, January 23

Denton, Texas

1:00 p.m.

East Carolina University

6-14,1-6American

North Texas

12-8,3-4American

East Carolina

North Texas

January 23, 2026 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Denton, Texas – Jordan Riley scored a team-high 15 points as East Carolina outlasted North Texas, 63-59, on Friday afternoon at The Super Pit.

Demitri Gardner scored 15 points while Corey Caulker added 11 points and Gio Emejuru recorded a double-double (10 points, 16 rebounds) for the Pirates (6-14, 1-6 American) who snapped a seven-game skid and picked up their first American Conference win.

Je'Shawn Stevenson led North Texas (12-8, 3-4 American) with 18 points.

After a sloppy start to the game for both teams, the Pirates finally got on the scoreboard on a rainbow three from Caulker at the 16:15 mark and Caulker would come down on the next possession and hit another triple to give the Pirates a 6-2 lead at the first media timeout.

The Pirates and Caulker would continue their efficient offensive start, holding a 13-9 lead with 10:23 left in the first half. North Texas' defense tightened up, holding the Pirates without a field goal for three minutes but ECU still maintained a 16-14 lead with just under eight minutes until halftime.

ECU gained some separation from UNT with a 6-0 spurt and the Pirates went into the locker room with a lead for the first time in five games at 28-23.

North Texas opened the second half with four unanswered before Riley put ECU in the second half box score with two free throws to make it 30-27 with 18:29 to go. After ECU went ahead 39-33, the Mean Green's defense ratcheted up, forcing two turnovers to quickly pull within a possession at 39-36 with 11:52 remaining in the game.

The Pirates took the momentum back on baskets from Gardner and Emejuru but North Texas took its first lead since the game's opening basket on a three-point play with 6:10 remaining. Clinging to a one-point lead, the Pirates went up by four points on a three from Isaiah Mbeng with three minutes left but North Texas continued to put pressure on the Pirates, tying the game at 54 with 1:28 left.

ECU would hold on down the stretch on a second-chance basket from Reid Cason, a three-point play from Riley and clutch free throws from Tybo Bailey and Emejuru to pick up its first road win of the season.

Up Next
East Carolina hosts Rice on Wednesday at 7 p.m. on ESPNU.