Rice traveled to Minges Coliseum and handed East Carolina a 83-77 loss, capitalizing on a strong second-half performance to secure the win. The Owls' victory was fueled by a balanced attack, with three players scoring in double figures, led by Jalen Smith's 21 points. Despite being predicted to lose by 1.5 points according to CHD Scout, Rice's performance proved the forecast incorrect, as they outscored the Pirates by six.
The first half saw both teams struggle to find their rhythm, with Rice and East Carolina tied at 33-33 heading into the break. Jordan Riley, the Pirates' top performer, was unstoppable in the first half, scoring 20 of his 37 points to keep East Carolina in the game. However, the Owls' offense caught fire in the second half, scoring 50 points and shooting an impressive percentage from the field. Nick Anderson and Trae Broadnax joined Smith in double figures, with Anderson scoring 19 points and Broadnax adding 16 points and 10 rebounds.
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Riley's 37 points were not enough to overcome the Owls' balanced attack, as East Carolina's supporting cast struggled to find their footing. Demitri Gardner added 16 points, while Giovanni Emejuru chipped in with 13 points and 6 rebounds, but it was not enough to keep pace with Rice's high-powered offense. The Pirates' inability to contain the Owls' attack ultimately led to their downfall, as Rice pulled away in the final minutes to secure the six-point victory.
The loss is a significant blow to East Carolina's resume, as this game was classified as a Quadrant 4 matchup. With a current NET ranking of 284, the Pirates desperately needed a win to bolster their tournament chances. Instead, they fell to 6-15 on the season, making it increasingly difficult to imagine a scenario where they earn a postseason berth. For Rice, the win is a modest boost to their resume, as they improved to 9-12 on the season and secured a Quadrant 4 victory. While the Owls' current NET ranking of 249 is still a long way from tournament contention, this win will help to pad their resume as they look to make a late-season push.
In the end, Rice's balanced attack and strong second-half performance was too much for East Carolina, as they secured a hard-fought 83-77 victory. With the win, the Owls take a small step forward in their quest for a postseason berth, while the Pirates are left to regroup and reassess their tournament chances.