GREENVILLE, N.C. – East Carolina seeks to end the calendar year of 2025 on a winning note and claim its first American Conference opener since the 2021-22 season on New Year’s Eve when the Pirates welcome Tulane to Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum.

Tipoff is slated for a noon start and the game will be televised on ESPNU with Mike Corey (play-by-play) and Mark Adams (analyst) on the call.  Pirate fans can also tune in to 107.9 WNCT FM, 94.3 The Game or download the IBX app to hear Daron Vaught call the action.

East Carolina is led by Jordan Riley’s 20.8 points per game (1st in American) and Giovanni Emejuru’s 14.2 points and 9.5 rebounds per game.

Last Time Out

Caleb Wilson had 21 points and 12 rebounds, and No. 12 North Carolina had its highest point total of the season in a 99-51 victory over East Carolina on Monday night. Gio Emejuru finished with 21 points and 14 rebounds for East Carolina.

Pirates in American Conference Openers

ECU is 2-9 in American Conference openers with the two league opening wins coming in 2016-17 (South Florida) and 2021-22 (Tulane).

Scouting the Green Wave

Tulane comes into the contest on a two-game winning streak after squeaking past Portland State, 63-61 on Dec. 20. American Conference Preseason Player of the Year Rowan Brumbaugh leads Tulane in scoring with 18.5 points per game while adding 3.3 assists per night. Curtis Williams Jr. adds 13.4 points per game and Asher Woods supplies the Green Wave with 11.7 points per contest. Tulane’s conference opener with East Carolina will be only the second true road game of the year for the Green Wave.

Series History

East Carolina leads the all-time series with Tulane 20-18 after splitting last season’s series against the Green Wave, falling in New Orleans (86-81) but defeating Tulane in the home regular season finale (73-64). ECU is 13-7 all-time at home against Tulane having won the last seven at Minges versus the Green Wave. The last Tulane win in Minges was on Jan. 31, 2018 when Tulane won 71-69 in overtime.

On This Date

ECU is 10-9 in games played on Dec. 31 with the last game on this date coming during the 2020-21 season when the Pirates defeated Tulane at home, 68-58. The Pirates have won their last five games played on Dec. 22.

Up Next

East Carolina has a week before visiting Temple on Jan. 7 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+.