UAB Blazers Edge East Carolina Pirates in Overtime Thriller
Sunday, January 11, 2026, 2:00 PM ET · Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum
UAB Blazers 87, East Carolina Pirates 85, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won UAB Blazers vs East Carolina Pirates?
UAB Blazers beat East Carolina Pirates 87-85 at Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum on January 11, 2026.
Who was favored in UAB Blazers vs East Carolina Pirates?
UAB Blazers were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -345 (about 78% implied). The favorite won.
In a thrilling overtime finish, the UAB Blazers narrowly defeated the East Carolina Pirates with a final score of 87-85 at Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum. This matchup was particularly notable as it showcased two teams with contrasting records and recent performances. UAB entered the game with an away record of 11-6, while East Carolina struggled with a home record of 5-11.
The Blazers have shown resilience in their recent outings, with a record of 6-4 over their last ten games. Despite a recent loss to the Florida Atlantic Owls, UAB has averaged 79.9 points scored per game and allowed 74.4 points, indicating a high-scoring style of play. In contrast, East Carolina has faced difficulties, recording a 3-7 mark in their last ten games, with an average of 64.9 points scored and 73.7 points allowed. This disparity in scoring averages highlights the challenges faced by the Pirates, who have now lost their last three games.
At home, East Carolina has been inconsistent, holding a 3-5 record, while UAB has performed well on the road with a 3-1 away record. The two teams have met previously in the 2025 season, splitting their two encounters. East Carolina secured a victory at home on February 12, 2025, winning 82-75, but fell to UAB in their away matchup on March 15, 2025, with a score of 77-94.
In terms of injuries, the block did not specify any players missing from either team, suggesting both squads were at full strength for this critical contest. The betting market, as provided by DraftKings, favored UAB with a spread of 7.5 points, indicating expectations of a competitive game. The total points line was set at 150.5, reflecting the anticipated offensive capabilities of both teams.
The game conditions were not detailed in the block, but the atmosphere at Williams Arena typically features a passionate crowd that can influence the home team’s performance. As the game unfolded, viewers were treated to a back-and-forth contest that culminated in overtime. Key moments included Giovanni Emejuru's dunk, which briefly gave UAB an 81-79 lead, and Jacob Meyer’s crucial free throws that helped UAB tie the game at 81-81.
The final minutes of overtime saw both teams exchanging leads, with Tybo Bailey hitting a pivotal three-pointer for East Carolina, but it was Jacob Meyer’s late jump shot that sealed the victory for UAB. This game not only highlighted the competitive spirit of both teams but also underscored the challenges East Carolina faces as they continue to search for consistency in their performance.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | UAB -7.5 | 150.5 o -112 / u -108 | UAB Blazers -345 · East Carolina Pirates +275 |
Leaders
- PointsJordan Riley30East Carolina Pirates
- AssistsIsaiah Mbeng9East Carolina Pirates
- ReboundsGiovanni Emejuru12East Carolina Pirates
- PointsJacob Meyer29UAB Blazers
- AssistsChance Westry5UAB Blazers
- ReboundsEvan Chatman8UAB Blazers
Recent form
East Carolina Pirates
Last 10: 3-7Streak L364.9 scored · 73.7 allowed per game3-5 at home
- L67-75at Temple OwlsJan 8
- L70-79vs Tulane Green WaveDec 31
- L51-99at North Carolina Tar HeelsDec 23
- W74-53vs Presbyterian Blue HoseDec 18
- W73-70vs Buffalo BullsDec 14
- L54-67vs App State MountaineersDec 12
- L78-82vs UNC Greensboro SpartansDec 6
- W68-56vs Maryland Eastern Shore HawksDec 3
- L58-67vs St. Bonaventure BonniesNov 27
- L56-89vs Michigan State SpartansNov 25
UAB Blazers
Last 10: 6-4Streak L179.9 scored · 74.4 allowed per game3-1 away
- L71-76vs Florida Atlantic OwlsJan 8
- W109-106at South Florida BullsJan 4
- L70-75vs Wichita State ShockersDec 31
- W72-47vs UNC Asheville BulldogsDec 21
- W101-77vs Cleveland State VikingsDec 18
- L85-86vs Troy TrojansDec 14
- W74-69at Drake BulldogsDec 6
- L61-76at Middle Tennessee Blue RaidersDec 2
- W75-59vs UTEP MinersNov 25
- W81-73at Southern Illinois SalukisNov 24
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Florida | 25-9 | - | 15-3 |
| Tulsa | 30-8 | 2 | 13-5 |
| Wichita State | 24-12 | 2 | 13-5 |
| UAB | 20-12 | 4 | 11-7 |
| North Texas | 19-14 | 6 | 9-9 |
| Florida Atlantic | 18-15 | 6 | 9-9 |
| Charlotte | 17-17 | 6 | 9-9 |
| Tulane | 18-15 | 7 | 8-10 |
| Temple | 16-16 | 7 | 8-10 |
| Memphis | 13-19 | 7 | 8-10 |
| Rice | 13-18 | 8 | 7-11 |
| East Carolina | 11-20 | 9 | 6-12 |
| UTSA | 5-25 | 14 | 1-17 |
Box score
| Stat | UAB Blazers | East Carolina Pirates |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 35-77 | 31-70 |
| Field goal % | 45 | 44 |
| Three-pointers | 3-13 | 8-22 |
| Three-point % | 23 | 36 |
| Free throws | 14-21 | 15-23 |
| Free throw % | 67 | 65 |
| Rebounds | 38 | 47 |
| Offensive rebounds | 12 | 14 |
| Defensive rebounds | 26 | 33 |
| Assists | 17 | 16 |
| Steals | 11 | 3 |
| Blocks | 2 | 7 |
| Turnovers | 8 | 17 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 14 | 6 |
| Fast-break points | 21 | 12 |
| Points in the paint | 46 | 36 |
| Fouls | 18 | 19 |
| Largest lead | 12 | 5 |
| Lead changes | 15 | 15 |
| Time in front | 59 | 26 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half58-48Giovanni Emejuru makes 2-foot dunk (Corey Caulker assists)
- 2nd Half58-50Jordan Riley makes driving layup
- 2nd Half59-50Evan Chatman makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half60-50Evan Chatman makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half60-51Jordan Riley makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half62-51Jacob Meyer makes 17-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half62-53Jordan Riley makes driving layup (Isaiah Mbeng assists)
- 2nd Half63-53Chance Westry makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half64-53Chance Westry makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half64-56Demitri Gardner makes 23-foot three point jumper (Isaiah Mbeng assists)
- 2nd Half66-56KyeRon Lindsay-Martin makes driving layup
- 2nd Half66-58Eli DeLaurier makes 10-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half66-60Isaiah Mbeng makes driving layup
- 2nd Half67-60Daniel Rivera makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half67-62Reid Cason makes driving layup (Isaiah Mbeng assists)
- 2nd Half69-62Chance Westry makes 20-foot jumper (Salim London assists)
- 2nd Half69-64Jordan Riley makes driving layup
- 2nd Half71-64KyeRon Lindsay-Martin makes 3-foot dunk (Chance Westry assists)
- 2nd Half71-65Giovanni Emejuru makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half71-66Giovanni Emejuru makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half72-66KyeRon Lindsay-Martin makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half73-66KyeRon Lindsay-Martin makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half73-69Jordan Riley makes 24-foot three point jumper (Isaiah Mbeng assists)
- 2nd Half73-71Reid Cason makes 2-foot dunk (Isaiah Mbeng assists)
- 2nd Half73-72Reid Cason makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half73-73Giovanni Emejuru makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half73-74Giovanni Emejuru makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half75-74Daniel Rivera makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half77-74KyeRon Lindsay-Martin makes layup
- 2nd Half77-76Jordan Riley makes 13-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half79-76Daniel Rivera makes driving layup (Chance Westry assists)
- 2nd Half79-79Isaiah Mbeng makes 26-foot three point jumper (Jordan Riley assists)
- OT79-81Giovanni Emejuru makes 2-foot dunk (Isaiah Mbeng assists)
- OT80-81Jacob Meyer makes free throw 1 of 2
- OT81-81Jacob Meyer makes free throw 2 of 2
- OT81-82Jordan Riley makes free throw 1 of 2
- OT83-82Evan Chatman makes driving layup
- OT83-85Tybo Bailey makes 23-foot three point jumper (Jordan Riley assists)
- OT85-85Jacob Meyer makes 11-foot jumper (Chance Westry assists)
- OT87-85Jacob Meyer makes 16-foot pullup jump shot
Win probability
Above the line favours East Carolina Pirates, below favours UAB Blazers.
Venue
- Williams Arena at Minges ColiseumGreenville, NC
- Attendance3296
- OfficialsMatt Potter, Lucas Santos, K.B. Burdett Jr.
Elsewhere
- Carson Crawford, No. 46 in '27 class, commits to Arizona St.
- Tennessee's Ralph Scott to have knee surgery, out at least 6 months
- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond