"Relentless Rebounding Powers ECU Past USF for Key 64-55 Victory"
On Saturday afternoon at Minges Coliseum, East Carolina secured its third consecutive victory, defeating South Florida 64-55. The Pirates hit at least 10 three-pointers for the third game in a row and controlled the boards in commanding fashion.
The win allowed ECU to even the score after a New Year’s Eve loss to USF in Tampa, where the Pirates struggled early and fell short despite a second-half rally. With this result, ECU improves to 12-9 overall and 4-4 in AAC play, marking just the second time in program history the Pirates have won three straight league games. The last streak came last season with wins over UTSA, Wichita State, and Tulane.
ECU's strong performance on the boards proved decisive, as the Pirates pulled down 17 offensive rebounds and out-rebounded USF by a wide margin, 48-27. Both teams made 10 three-pointers, with ECU hitting 35.7% of their attempts (10-of-28) compared to USF’s 45.5% (10-of-22).
Coach Michael Schwartz praised his team’s commitment.
“The guys in the white jerseys bought into the game plan we talked about from the time we were postgame in the locker room after Tulsa. We said there were going to be two things we had to hang our hats on come Saturday at 1 o’clock. It was going to be our ability to guard the ball and book-ending it with offensive rebounding.”
The Pirates controlled much of the game, leading for over 30 minutes, including the entire second half. USF trimmed the deficit to four points early in the half, but ECU quickly responded with consecutive baskets from RJ Felton. Trevion LaBeaux and Felton later hit back-to-back three-pointers, extending ECU’s lead to 48-36 with just over 11 minutes to play.
ECU put the game out of reach with an 8-0 run midway through the second half, leading by as many as 17 points on two occasions. USF managed an 8-0 run of their own in the final minutes to narrow the scoreline but couldn’t overcome ECU’s dominance.
C.J. Walker led the way for the Pirates with 15 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and two blocks. Felton recorded a double-double with 12 points and a career-high 14 rebounds. Jordan Riley added 12 points, six boards, and two steals.
LaBeaux contributed eight points and eight rebounds in 25 minutes, while Yann Farell and Jayshayne Woodard chipped in six points each. Cam Hayes finished with five points, four assists, and two steals.
“It’s all about mindset, but he (LaBeaux) will stay humble about it,” Schwartz said. “It’s his heart, passion, and the effort he brings every day. It’s not just who he is as a player but also as a person. He’s a first-class human being, and we’ve known that since he stepped on campus. His stats may not always make the headlines, but he brings this level of dedication every single day.”