Charlotte 49ers defeated East Carolina Pirates 68-56
Anton Bonke led Charlotte with 12 points and nine rebounds
Jordan Riley scored 20 points for East Carolina
Charlotte took the lead for good with 19:12 left in the first half
📖 Full Retelling
Anton Bonke led the Charlotte 49ers to a 68-56 victory over the East Carolina Pirates in Charlotte, North Carolina on Saturday, February 21, 2026, as part of the American Athletic Conference regular season. Bonke contributed 12 points and nine rebounds to Charlotte's (14-13, 8-6 American Athletic Conference) victory, while Ben Bradford also added 12 points on 5-of-14 shooting with seven rebounds. Dezayne Mingo chipped in with 10 points. For East Carolina (9-18, 4-10), Jordan Riley finished with a game-high 20 points and two steals, with Corey Caulker providing 16 points off the bench and Giovanni Emejuru adding 10 points and 12 rebounds. Charlotte took control of the game with 19:12 remaining in the first half and never trailed again, holding a 36-25 advantage at halftime. In the second half, the 49ers extended their lead with a 9-2 run that turned a two-point advantage into a nine-point cushion, with Bonke leading the way with 10 second-half points as Charlotte outscored East Carolina by one point in the final period to secure the victory.
🏷️ Themes
College Basketball, American Athletic Conference, Sports Competition
Amateur basketball played by students of higher education institutions
College basketball is basketball that is played by teams of student-athletes at universities and colleges. In the United States, colleges and universities are governed by collegiate athletic bodies, including the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the National Association of Intercolle...
The American Conference, formerly the American Athletic Conference (AAC), and also known as simply the American, is a collegiate athletic conference in the United States, featuring 13 full member universities and 6 affiliate member universities that compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Associ...
Athletic teams that represent East Carolina University
The East Carolina Pirates are the athletic teams that represent East Carolina University (ECU), located in Greenville, North Carolina. All varsity-level sports teams participate at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I (Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) for football) level as ...
Charlotte's win improves their overall record and keeps them in the middle of the AAC standings, giving them a chance to qualify for postseason play. The victory also showcases the team's depth, with Anton Bonke contributing significantly on both ends of the floor.
Context & Background
Charlotte 49ers are 14-13 overall and 8-6 in AAC play
East Carolina Pirates are 9-18 overall and 4-10 in AAC play
Bonke scored 12 points and grabbed 9 rebounds to help secure the win
What Happens Next
Charlotte will face their next conference opponent in the coming week, and the result could influence their seeding for the AAC tournament. East Carolina will look to regroup and improve their performance in upcoming games to climb out of the bottom of the standings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who scored the most points for Charlotte?
Jordan Riley scored 20 points for Charlotte
What was the final score of the game?
Charlotte defeated East Carolina 68-56
How did Charlotte perform in the second half?
Charlotte pulled away with a 9-2 run and outscored East Carolina by one point in the final half
Original Source
Bonke puts up 12 as Charlotte defeats East Carolina 68-56 Led by Anton Bonke's 12 points, the Charlotte 49ers defeated the East Carolina Pirates 68-56 on Saturday By The Associated Press February 21, 2026, 3:02 PM CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Anton Bonke scored 12 points as Charlotte beat East Carolina 68-56 on Saturday. Bonke added nine rebounds for the 49ers (14-13, 8-6 American Athletic Conference). Ben Bradford added 12 points while going 5 of 14 (1 for 5 from 3-point range) while they also had seven rebounds. Dezayne Mingo had 10 points. Jordan Riley finished with 20 points and two steals for the Pirates (9-18, 4-10). East Carolina also got 16 points from Corey Caulker coming from off the bench. Giovanni Emejuru also had 10 points and 12 rebounds. Charlotte took the lead for good with 19:12 left in the first half. The score was 36-25 at halftime, with Bradford racking up seven points. Charlotte pulled away with a 9-2 run in the second half to extend a two-point lead to nine points. They outscored East Carolina by one point in the final half, as Bonke led the way with a team-high 10 second-half points. Popular Reads Nancy Guthrie live updates: More than 1 suspect not ruled out, sheriff's office says Feb 20, 4:51 PM Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor released after arrest on suspicion of misconduct Feb 19, 4:23 PM Nancy Guthrie case: Person released as search for 'armed individual' continues Feb 10, 11:15 PM ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar . Sponsored Content by Taboola Popular Reads Nancy Guthrie live updates: More than 1 suspect not ruled out, sheriff's office says Feb 20, 4:51 PM Nancy Guthrie case: Person released as search for 'armed individual' continues Feb 10, 11:15 PM Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor released after arrest on suspicion of misconduct Feb 19, 4:23 PM 8 of 9 missing skiers found dead following California avalanche Feb 18, 6:02 PM ABC News Live 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live event...
