East Carolina forward C.J. Walker spins and hits the game-winning jumper with four seconds left. The Pirates win, 80-79, handing the UTSA Roadrunners their second one-point loss this week. Please see my story. https://t.co/hyCDEtJ4sq pic.twitter.com/Lm3VeTvjr7

— Jerry Briggs (@JerryBriggs) February 9, 2025

C.J. Walker, a grad transfer from UCF, calmly knocks down the game-winning shot for the East Carolina Pirates with four seconds left. – Video by The JB Replay

By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

Forward C.J. Walker hit a turnaround jumper in the key with four seconds remaining Saturday night, lifting the East Carolina Pirates over the UTSA Roadrunners, 80-79, at the Convocation Center.

Walker, a 6-foot-8 transfer from UCF in his first year at East Carolina, finished with 28 points and 10 rebounds.

He had 18 of his points in the second half, when the Roadrunners were going to sophomore guard Marcus Millender, who scored 17 of his team-high 21 after intermission.

Pirates coach Michael Schwartz credited Walker for keeping his focus during a game in which he was asked to come off the bench.

Schwartz said the plan was to get the ball to Walker at the end.

“We felt like that’s how we had to go,” Schwartz said, “to play through C.J. He delivered, and he’s delivered a lot of times this year. Really proud of C.J.

“Love his approach. He didn’t start tonight. That’s the maturity of someone that came off the bench as obviously a main guy and a starter, to come in and stay totally focused on the task at hand.”

The Pirates trailed by four with 48 seconds remaining and still managed to pull out the victory on the Roadrunners’ home floor.

Turnovers by the Roadrunners set up the Pirates’ last two possessions and the last five points of the game.

First, ECU’s Trevian LeBeaux made a steal, leading to a driving layup by guard Jordan Riley, who was fouled on the play.

After the whistle, Riley went to the line and sank the free throw with 17.9 seconds remaining, bringing the Pirates to within one.

On the ensuing inbounds play, UTSA’s Primo Spears was trapped in the backcourt, and guard RJ Felton forced a turnover that gave the Pirates the ball with 14 seconds left.

Cam Hayes received the inbounds pass about 35 feet from the hoop and fed it to Walker just outside the top of the key. Dribbling left and then spinning back to his right, Walker fired a turn-around jumper from the free-throw line over Horton for the winning basket.

As UTSA rushed the ball up the other way, Horton missed a desperation three at the buzzer from about 30 feet, sealing the team’s second straight heartbreaking loss at home.

The Roadrunners gave up a 10-point lead in the last three minutes and lost 61-60 to the Tulane Green Wave on Wednesday night.

UTSA coach Austin Claunch said he felt like his team played well enough to win the game but just couldn’t make the plays at the end to clinch it.

Claunch said the Roadrunners will need to get back to work to reverse their fortunes. Responding to a reporter who asked how his players recover from close losses, “You know, it’s hard. You got to get up and go to work.

“You know, we’ll be in a lot more of these games as we move forward. We just got to figure out how to finish them better.”

Records

East Carolina 13-11, 5-6
UTSA 10-13, 4-7

Coming up

UTSA at Wichita State, Wednesday, 6:30 p.m.
UTSA at Tulsa, Saturday, Feb. 15, 5 p.m.

First half

The UTSA Roadrunners heated up late in the half, knocking down five of their last six shots against the East Carolina Pirates, as they took a 40-33 lead into intermission. For the half, they Roadrunners shot 47 percent from the field.

The Pirates got the early jump to start the game, driving the ball inside, getting to the free throw line and moving out to a 10-5 lead. From there, the Roadrunners started to click, sprinting away on a 14-0 run.

After two straight baskets by reserve forward Jonnivius Smith, the Roadrunners led 19-10 with 11:03 remaining. The Pirates responded with a run of their own, tying the game 23-23. But the Roadrunners retaliated, taking an aggressive approach. With the ball moving on offense, Damari Monsanto finished two plays with three pointers.

Another highlight came when Raekwon Horton lobbed a pass above the rim, where Baboucarr Njie soared to dunk it.

Horton led the Roadrunners in the half with 11 points, and Horton had nine. Smith was effective with four points, four rebounds and two steals.

For the Pirates, C.J. Walker came off the bench for 10 points ad six rebounds. Guard Jordan Riley scored nine, all from the free-throw line, where he made nine of 10.

AAC standings

Memphis 9-1, 19-4
UAB 8-2, 15-8
North Texas 8-3, 17-6
Tulane 7-4, 13-11
Temple 6-4, 14-9
FAU 6-4, 13-10
South Florida 5-5, 12-11
East Carolina 5-6, 13-11
UTSA 4-7, 10-13
Rice 3-8, 12-12
Tulsa 3-8, 9-15
Wichita State 2-7, 12-10
Charlotte 2-9, 9-15

Saturday’s results

FAU 79, Tulsa 55
North Texas 76, Tulane 66
Charlotte 78, Rice 75
East Carolina 80, UTSA 79

Sunday

Temple at Memphis, 1 p.m.
Wichita State at South Florida, 1 p.m.