East Carolina Snaps Losing Streak With Road Win Over North Texas

For East Carolina’s men’s basketball program, Friday afternoon’s showdown at the Super Pit in Denton, Texas, was more than just another conference game—it was a much-needed lifeline. After enduring a grueling seven-game losing streak, the Pirates finally broke through, toppling the North Texas Mean Green 63-59 in a gritty American Athletic Conference contest that offered a rare moment to exhale and, perhaps, to dream again.

The matchup, originally scheduled for Saturday evening but moved up due to a looming winter storm, left ECU with just a single day to recover from their previous outing—a tough road loss at Wichita State. But if the Pirates felt rushed or weary, it didn’t show in their determination. Snapping both their conference and road winless streaks in one fell swoop, ECU improved to 6-14 overall and 1-6 in league play, while North Texas dropped to 12-8 and 3-4 in the conference. For the Pirates, this was their first victory over the Mean Green since 1984—a stat that underscores just how significant this win was for the program.

“They play a very unconventional defense. They deny you all over the floor. You can’t run traditional offense,” East Carolina head coach Michael Schwartz explained after the game. “We made the adjustments we needed to do. But I’m going to give you one number, that’s 43-28. That’s out rebounding them by 15. That was our number one focus, how we were going to be on the offensive and defensive glass. And that ended up being what saved us at the end, between some missed shots and missed free throws.”

Indeed, rebounding was the story of the day—ECU dominated the glass, collecting 43 boards to North Texas’ 28. Giovanni Emejuru was a force in the paint, pulling down 16 rebounds (five on the offensive end) to go along with 10 points. His presence was pivotal, especially as the game tightened in the closing minutes.

Offensively, the Pirates were far from perfect, coughing up the ball 18 times. But they managed to shoot a respectable 42.6% from the field and a solid 37.5% from beyond the arc (6-of-16). At the free throw line, they were steady, converting 17 of 23 attempts—good for 73.9%. North Texas, meanwhile, struggled to find their rhythm, shooting just 34.9% from the floor and a chilly 4-of-20 (20%) from three-point range. The Mean Green simply couldn’t capitalize on their opportunities, especially late in the contest.

Jordan Riley, ECU’s leading scorer, had an off night from the field (3-of-12), but he found ways to contribute, finishing with 15 points thanks to a stellar 9-of-10 performance at the charity stripe. Demitri Gardner continued his recent uptick in form, adding 13 points and knocking down two triples. Corey Caulker provided a spark early, draining three three-pointers to tally 11 points, and chipped in six assists before fouling out. “We just needed to get this one,” Gardner said, reflecting the mood throughout the Pirates’ camp.

At halftime, East Carolina held a 28-23 lead, having controlled the pace for much of the opening period. The game remained a tight, one-to-two possession affair throughout the second half. North Texas briefly seized a 48-47 advantage with just over six minutes left, but the Pirates responded with poise. Emejuru calmly sank two free throws, and Isaiah Mbeng drilled a crucial three-pointer to reclaim the lead at 52-48.

As the clock wound down, the tension ratcheted up. North Texas clawed back to tie the game at 54 with just under 90 seconds remaining. That’s when Reid Cason came up big for ECU, grabbing an offensive rebound and finishing a go-ahead layup with 52 seconds left. On the next possession, Cason again crashed the glass, this time dishing to Riley, who completed a three-point play to extend the lead to 59-54 with just 33 ticks remaining. North Texas answered, trimming the deficit to 61-59 with 16 seconds left, but Tybo Bailey and Emejuru each hit a free throw to seal the deal, making it a two-possession game and all but icing the contest.

The Mean Green were led by Je’Shawn Stevenson, who poured in a game-high 18 points, and David Terrell Jr., who added 12 points and five rebounds. But it wasn’t enough to overcome ECU’s relentless rebounding and timely shot-making. North Texas head coach Daniyal Robinson was gracious in defeat, stating, “Give ECU a ton of credit. They came in with a great gameplan. I felt like there were opportunities late in the game to turn the game in our favor but they made a few more plays down the stretch.”

For North Texas, the loss was a tough pill to swallow, especially after an impressive home victory over UTSA in their previous outing, where Stevenson had erupted for 27 points and Terrell Jr. had been a model of efficiency. The Mean Green will look to regroup quickly as they prepare to travel to Tulsa for their next conference matchup on Wednesday, January 28.

The Pirates, meanwhile, can finally savor a positive moment in a season that’s been short on them. The win not only snapped a seven-game slide, but it also injected new life into their quest to qualify for the league tournament. Only the top 10 of 13 teams make the field, so every win is precious as the regular season hits its back stretch.

Looking ahead, East Carolina will return home to Minges Coliseum to host Rice on Wednesday, January 28. With momentum finally on their side and a renewed sense of belief, the Pirates will hope that this breakthrough victory marks a turning point. Can they build on this hard-fought win and make a late push for the postseason? Only time will tell, but for now, the weight of that losing streak is gone—and the horizon looks just a little bit brighter for ECU basketball.