GREENVILLE, N.C. (ECU ATHLETICS) - Giovanni Emejuru had a game-high 23 points and 10 rebounds as East Carolina held off Elizabeth City State, 71-70, inside Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum on Thursday night.

Tybo Bailey had a career night with 19 points for the Pirates (2-1), who were shorthanded on the night without leading scorer Jordan Riley .

Trevor Smith led Elizabeth City State with 20 points.

The Pirates struck first in the game’s opening seconds on a layup from Corey Caulker , but the Vikings led most of the first four minutes until Vito Perkovic’s layup gave ECU a 10-9 edge going into the first media timeout.

ECU went up by as much as seven after Isaiah Mbeng’s layup made it 18-11 with 12:06 left but ECSU outscored the Pirates 15-10 over an eight-minute stretch to

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