Pirates Open Season with Thrilling 92–89 Win Over Georgia Southern
Photo Credit: ECU Athletics
East Carolina kicked off the 2025–26 basketball season in dramatic fashion Tuesday night, outlasting Georgia Southern 92–89 in a high-energy battle inside Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum.
It was a rollercoaster opener for the Pirates, who start the season 1–0 behind a dominant frontcourt showing, elite defense, and clutch plays down the stretch.
Schwartz Proud of Team’s Grit
Head Coach Michael Schwartz knew opening night wouldn’t be easy.
“We knew what kind of difficult home opener this would be,” Schwartz said. “We had some adversities with injuries, but I’m proud of how this team found a way to execute late game.”
It was far from perfect, but the Pirates delivered in crunch time something Schwartz’s program has made a point of emphasizing.
Riley’s Two-Way Dominance Sets the Tone
Preseason First-Team All-Confernce guard Jordan Riley looked every bit the part of ECU’s leader, posting 22 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 steals. He was everywhere, slicing through the lane on offense, forcing turnovers on defense, and setting the tone with relentless energy.
Schwartz praised Riley’s consistency and maturity:
“If you look at this, this is what Jordan Riley was last year just now doing it in an elevated role,” Schwartz said. “Everyone thinks he has to be a different player; he doesn’t. He just has to be the same great player.”
Emejuru Makes a Statement in Debut
In his first official game as a Pirate, 6-foot-10 forward Giovanni Emejuru showed flashes of dominance, scoring 17 points with 9 rebounds on 5-for-8 shooting. His strength in the paint and ability to draw fouls helped fuel ECU’s inside attack.
“It felt amazing,” Emejuru said after the game. “We put so much into this. We gave a lot of effort today, and that’s what I’m proud of.”
Cason’s Energy Changes the Game
Second-year big man Reid Cason provided a spark off the bench, going 7-of-8 from the floor for 14 points and 5 rebounds. Schwartz praised Cason’s passion and energy, which carried the Pirates during several crucial second-half stretches.
“He loves this team,” Schwartz said. “He played with himself and with a lot of emotion that’s what we want from him. The whole frontcourt played big for us today.”
Team Effort Seals the Win
East Carolina once again leaned on its toughness and rebounding edge, out-boarding Georgia Southern 44–37, including 18 offensive rebounds that turned into 22 second-chance points. The Pirates also came up with 8 steals and 5 blocks while forcing 14 turnovers.
Georgia Southern battled back behind strong shooting, hitting 9-of-22 from three (41%), led by Amare Applewhite’s 21 points. But ECU’s defense and interior play proved too much.
Stat Leaders
Jordan Riley: 22 pts, 8 reb, 6 stl
Giovanni Emejuru: 17 pts, 9 reb
Reid Cason: 14 pts, 5 reb (7-8 FG)
Isaiah Mbeng: 9 pts, 8 ast, 2 stl
Eli DeLaurier: 8 pts, 2 clutch FTs to seal the game
Final Thoughts
ECU’s defense generated energy, the frontcourt delivered, and the Pirates found ways to finish even while short-handed. The Pirates begin the year 1–0 and will travel to Richmond on Saturday at 6 p.m. ET for their first road test.
The win marks East Carolina’s 26th consecutive season-opening victory.