GREENVILLE, N.C. (AP) Brandon Johnson scored 24 points and Javon Small added 23 points as East Carolina Pirates beat Mercer Bears 77-75 on Tuesday night in a season opener.
RJ Felton recorded 11 points for the Pirates.
Jalyn McCreary led the Bears in scoring, finishing with 18 points. Mercer also got 12 points from Shawn Walker.
Johnson scored 10 points in the first half, but East Carolina went into the break trailing 39-30. Small's 17-point second half helped East Carolina close out the two-point victory.
NEXT UP
East Carolina's next game is Saturday against Presbyterian at home. Mercer hosts Milligan on Friday.
---
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Copyright 2025 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
1st Half
MER
Bears
39
ECU
Pirates
30
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
(Bears gains possession)
19:33
+2
Jalyn McCreary makes two point jump shot
2-0
19:13
+3
Brandon Johnson makes three point jump shot (RJ Felton assists)
2-3
18:47
Shawn Walker Jr. turnover (RJ Felton steals)
18:33
Quentin Diboundje misses three point jump shot
18:31
Jalyn McCreary defensive rebound
18:18
+3
Luis Hurtado, Jr. makes three point jump shot (David Craig assists)
5-3
18:04
+3
Brandon Johnson makes three point jump shot (Quentin Diboundje assists)
5-6
17:29
Luis Hurtado, Jr. turnover (shot clock violation)
17:16
Javon Small misses three point jump shot
17:14
Brandon Johnson offensive rebound
17:01
Brandon Johnson turnover (Kamar Robertson steals)
16:59
Shawn Walker Jr. misses three point jump shot
16:57
Luis Hurtado, Jr. offensive rebound
16:57
+2
David Craig makes two point dunk (Luis Hurtado, Jr. assists)
7-6
16:38
Brandon Johnson misses three point jump shot
16:36
RJ Felton offensive rebound
16:36
Shawn Walker Jr. personal foul
16:34
Jaden Walker turnover (out of bounds)
16:16
+3
Jalen Cobb makes three point jump shot (Kamar Robertson assists)
10-6
15:49
Wynston Tabbs misses three point jump shot
15:47
Pirates offensive rebound
15:45
TV timeout
15:42
Wynston Tabbs misses three point jump shot
15:41
Benjamin Bayela offensive rebound
15:33
Jaden Walker misses two point layup
15:31
Jalen Cobb defensive rebound
15:22
Luis Hurtado, Jr. turnover (bad pass)
15:04
Wynston Tabbs misses two point layup
15:02
Benjamin Bayela offensive rebound
14:56
David Craig blocks Jaden Walker's two point layup
14:54
David Craig defensive rebound
14:45
+2
Shawn Walker Jr. makes two point layup
12-6
14:25
Wynston Tabbs turnover (Shawn Walker Jr. steals)
14:14
+2
Luis Hurtado, Jr. makes two point layup (Shawn Walker Jr. assists)
14-6
13:57
+2
Wynston Tabbs makes two point layup
14-8
13:48
Jalen Cobb misses three point jump shot
13:46
Luis Hurtado, Jr. offensive rebound
13:37
+3
Kamar Robertson makes three point jump shot (Luis Hurtado, Jr. assists)
17-8
13:21
Kalib LaCount turnover (Kamar Robertson steals)
13:14
+3
Shawn Walker Jr. makes three point jump shot (Jalen Cobb assists)
20-8
13:14
Pirates 30 second timeout
12:53
Kamar Robertson shooting foul (Javon Small draws the foul)
12:53
+1
Javon Small makes regular free throw 1 of 2
20-9
12:53
+1
Javon Small makes regular free throw 2 of 2
20-10
12:40
Quentin Diboundje shooting foul (Jah Quinones draws the foul)
12:40
+1
Jah Quinones makes regular free throw 1 of 2
21-10
12:40
+1
Jah Quinones makes regular free throw 2 of 2
22-10
12:24
Kamar Robertson personal foul
12:21
Quentin Diboundje offensive foul
12:21
Quentin Diboundje turnover
12:06
Shawn Walker Jr. turnover (traveling)
11:36
Brandon Johnson turnover (shot clock violation)
11:36
TV timeout
11:12
+3
Jordan Jones makes three point jump shot (Shawn Walker Jr. assists)
25-10
10:55
RJ Felton misses three point jump shot
10:53
Jah Quinones defensive rebound
10:53
Ezra Ausar personal foul
10:35
Jah Quinones misses two point layup
10:33
Jah Quinones offensive rebound
10:29
Jah Quinones turnover (RJ Felton steals)
10:29
Jah Quinones personal foul
10:16
+2
Jaden Walker makes two point layup
25-12
9:57
Ezra Ausar shooting foul (Shawn Walker Jr. draws the foul)
9:57
Shawn Walker Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 2
9:57
Shawn Walker Jr. misses regular free throw 2 of 2
9:57
Bears offensive rebound
9:50
Jordan Jones misses two point layup
9:48
Jaden Walker defensive rebound
9:42
Michael Zanoni personal foul
9:30
RJ Felton misses three point jump shot
9:28
Jordan Jones defensive rebound
9:08
+2
Jalyn McCreary makes two point jump shot (Shawn Walker Jr. assists)
27-12
8:48
+2
Brandon Johnson makes two point layup (Kalib LaCount assists)
27-14
8:39
Shawn Walker Jr. turnover (bad pass)
8:29
Kalib LaCount misses three point jump shot
8:27
Shawn Walker Jr. defensive rebound
8:18
Jalyn McCreary misses two point jump shot
8:16
Brandon Johnson defensive rebound
8:09
Luis Hurtado, Jr. personal foul
8:06
+2
Jaden Walker makes two point layup (Javon Small assists)
27-16
7:36
+2
Jalen Cobb makes two point jump shot (Jalyn McCreary assists)
29-16
7:21
+3
Kalib LaCount makes three point jump shot (Jaden Walker assists)
29-19
7:05
Kalib LaCount shooting foul (Luis Hurtado, Jr. draws the foul)
7:05
TV timeout
7:05
+1
Luis Hurtado, Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2
30-19
7:05
+1
Luis Hurtado, Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2
31-19
6:49
Brandon Johnson misses three point jump shot
6:47
Kalib LaCount offensive rebound
6:42
Kalib LaCount turnover (bad pass)
6:26
Jalen Cobb misses two point layup
6:24
Benjamin Bayela defensive rebound
6:13
Jaden Walker misses three point jump shot
6:11
Bears defensive rebound
5:59
Bears 30 second timeout
5:56
David Craig misses two point layup
5:54
Shawn Walker Jr. offensive rebound
5:47
+2
Shawn Walker Jr. makes two point layup
33-19
5:34
+2
Brandon Johnson makes two point layup
33-21
5:09
+2
David Craig makes two point hook shot (Luis Hurtado, Jr. assists)
35-21
4:52
Javon Small misses three point jump shot
4:50
David Craig defensive rebound
4:32
Shawn Walker Jr. misses three point jump shot
4:30
Pirates defensive rebound
4:07
Ludgy Debaut misses two point dunk
4:05
Ludgy Debaut offensive rebound
3:59
Ludgy Debaut turnover (Jah Quinones steals)
3:55
Luis Hurtado, Jr. turnover (bad pass)
3:55
TV timeout
3:35
RJ Felton misses two point jump shot
3:33
David Craig defensive rebound
3:15
Jah Quinones misses two point jump shot
3:13
Ludgy Debaut defensive rebound
3:04
Wynston Tabbs misses three point jump shot
3:02
Jah Quinones defensive rebound
2:45
+2
Jah Quinones makes two point jump shot (Shawn Walker Jr. assists)
37-21
2:24
Jordan Jones blocks Kalib LaCount's two point layup
2:22
Pirates offensive rebound
2:13
+3
Kalib LaCount makes three point jump shot (Brandon Johnson assists)
37-24
1:52
Luis Hurtado, Jr. misses three point jump shot
1:50
Jaden Walker defensive rebound
1:42
Jaden Walker misses two point layup
1:40
Luis Hurtado, Jr. defensive rebound
1:26
+2
Shawn Walker Jr. makes two point jump shot
39-24
1:09
+2
Javon Small makes two point dunk
39-26
0:54
Jalyn McCreary turnover (RJ Felton steals)
0:46
+2
RJ Felton makes two point dunk
39-28
0:34
Luis Hurtado, Jr. turnover (RJ Felton steals)
0:27
Kalib LaCount misses three point jump shot
0:25
Javon Small offensive rebound
0:19
Javon Small misses three point jump shot
0:17
Pirates offensive rebound
0:01
+2
Javon Small makes two point layup
39-30
0:00
End of period
2nd Half
MER
Bears
36
ECU
Pirates
47
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:41
Brandon Johnson misses two point jump shot
19:39
Bears defensive rebound
19:38
Saxby Sunderland personal foul
19:15
Shawn Walker Jr. misses two point jump shot
19:13
Jalyn McCreary offensive rebound
19:07
RJ Felton blocks Jalyn McCreary's two point layup
19:05
Jalyn McCreary offensive rebound
19:07
RJ Felton shooting foul (Jalyn McCreary draws the foul)
19:07
+1
Jalyn McCreary makes regular free throw 1 of 2
40-30
19:07
Jalyn McCreary misses regular free throw 2 of 2
19:07
Saxby Sunderland defensive rebound
19:00
+3
Javon Small makes three point jump shot
40-33
18:43
David Craig misses two point layup
18:41
Brandon Johnson defensive rebound
18:35
+2
Javon Small makes two point layup
40-35
18:35
Luis Hurtado, Jr. shooting foul (Javon Small draws the foul)
18:35
+1
Javon Small makes regular free throw 1 of 1
40-36
18:22
Jalyn McCreary misses two point jump shot
18:20
Saxby Sunderland defensive rebound
18:14
Jalyn McCreary shooting foul (Brandon Johnson draws the foul)
18:14
+1
Brandon Johnson makes regular free throw 1 of 2
40-37
18:14
Brandon Johnson misses regular free throw 2 of 2
18:14
Jalyn McCreary defensive rebound
18:10
Luis Hurtado, Jr. misses two point layup
18:08
Kamar Robertson offensive rebound
18:02
Saxby Sunderland personal foul
17:45
+2
David Craig makes two point dunk (Luis Hurtado, Jr. assists)
42-37
17:33
+2
Brandon Johnson makes two point dunk (Javon Small assists)
42-39
17:10
+2
Shawn Walker Jr. makes two point layup
44-39
17:10
Quentin Diboundje shooting foul (Shawn Walker Jr. draws the foul)
17:10
+1
Shawn Walker Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 1
45-39
16:47
Javon Small turnover (Jalyn McCreary steals)
16:35
+2
Jalyn McCreary makes two point layup
47-39
16:26
RJ Felton misses three point jump shot
16:24
Brandon Johnson offensive rebound
16:23
Shawn Walker Jr. personal foul
16:21
+2
Brandon Johnson makes two point layup (Javon Small assists)
47-41
16:05
Luis Hurtado, Jr. misses three point jump shot
16:03
Pirates defensive rebound
15:47
Javon Small misses three point jump shot
15:45
Bears defensive rebound
15:45
TV timeout
15:33
RJ Felton personal foul
15:31
Jalyn McCreary misses two point jump shot
15:29
David Craig offensive rebound
15:22
David Craig misses two point layup
15:20
Jalyn McCreary offensive rebound
15:19
Benjamin Bayela shooting foul (David Craig draws the foul)
15:19
David Craig misses regular free throw 1 of 2
15:19
+1
David Craig makes regular free throw 2 of 2
48-41
15:08
David Craig personal foul
14:49
+3
Jaden Walker makes three point jump shot (Brandon Johnson assists)
48-44
14:25
Kamar Robertson misses two point jump shot
14:23
Pirates defensive rebound
14:08
David Craig shooting foul (Ludgy Debaut draws the foul)
14:08
Ludgy Debaut misses regular free throw 1 of 2
14:08
Ludgy Debaut misses regular free throw 2 of 2
14:08
Bears defensive rebound
13:52
Luis Hurtado, Jr. turnover (Ludgy Debaut steals)
13:46
+2
Ludgy Debaut makes two point dunk
48-46
13:31
Javon Small personal foul (Kamar Robertson draws the foul)
13:31
+1
Kamar Robertson makes regular free throw 1 of 2
49-46
13:31
+1
Kamar Robertson makes regular free throw 2 of 2
50-46
13:19
Javon Small misses two point layup
13:17
David Craig defensive rebound
13:03
David Craig misses two point layup
13:01
Jah Quinones offensive rebound
12:54
+2
Jah Quinones makes two point layup
52-46
12:39
Luis Hurtado, Jr. shooting foul (Brandon Johnson draws the foul)
12:39
+1
Brandon Johnson makes regular free throw 1 of 2
52-47
12:39
+1
Brandon Johnson makes regular free throw 2 of 2
52-48
12:23
Brandon Johnson blocks Shawn Walker Jr.'s two point layup
12:21
Kamar Robertson offensive rebound
12:21
+2
Kamar Robertson makes two point layup
54-48
12:21
Brandon Johnson shooting foul (Kamar Robertson draws the foul)
12:21
+1
Kamar Robertson makes regular free throw 1 of 1
55-48
12:08
Kalib LaCount misses three point jump shot
12:06
RJ Felton offensive rebound
12:00
+2
RJ Felton makes two point layup
55-50
11:49
Jordan Jones misses three point jump shot
11:47
RJ Felton defensive rebound
11:46
Shawn Walker Jr. personal foul (RJ Felton draws the foul)
11:46
TV timeout
11:46
+1
RJ Felton makes regular free throw 1 of 2
55-51
11:46
+1
RJ Felton makes regular free throw 2 of 2
55-52
11:36
Brandon Johnson personal foul (Jah Quinones draws the foul)
11:36
Jah Quinones misses regular free throw 1 of 1
11:36
Benjamin Bayela defensive rebound
11:16
Brandon Johnson misses three point jump shot
11:14
Pirates offensive rebound
11:08
David Craig personal foul (Brandon Johnson draws the foul)
11:08
+1
Brandon Johnson makes regular free throw 1 of 2
55-53
11:08
+1
Brandon Johnson makes regular free throw 2 of 2
55-54
10:42
+2
David Craig makes two point layup (Jordan Jones assists)
57-54
10:25
+3
Brandon Johnson makes three point jump shot (Javon Small assists)
57-57
10:03
Shawn Walker Jr. misses two point layup
10:01
Brandon Johnson defensive rebound
9:53
David Craig blocks RJ Felton's two point layup
9:51
Pirates offensive rebound
9:38
Javon Small misses two point layup
9:36
Jalen Cobb defensive rebound
9:32
+2
Jalyn McCreary makes two point layup (Jalen Cobb assists)
59-57
9:21
Brandon Johnson turnover (bad pass)
8:59
Jalyn McCreary turnover (out of bounds)
8:38
Benjamin Bayela misses three point jump shot
8:36
Bears defensive rebound
8:17
Kamar Robertson misses two point layup
8:15
Benjamin Bayela defensive rebound
8:08
+2
Javon Small makes two point layup (Kalib LaCount assists)
59-59
8:06
Jalyn McCreary shooting foul (Javon Small draws the foul)
8:06
+1
Javon Small makes regular free throw 1 of 1
59-60
7:54
Kalib LaCount personal foul (Jalyn McCreary draws the foul)
7:54
TV timeout
7:54
Jalyn McCreary misses regular free throw 1 of 2
7:54
Jalyn McCreary misses regular free throw 2 of 2
7:54
Brandon Johnson defensive rebound
7:28
+2
RJ Felton makes two point jump shot (Brandon Johnson assists)
59-62
7:07
+2
Jalyn McCreary makes two point layup
61-62
6:44
Kalib LaCount turnover (Kamar Robertson steals)
6:21
Jalyn McCreary misses two point jump shot
6:19
Javon Small defensive rebound
6:11
+3
Javon Small makes three point jump shot
61-65
5:52
+2
Jalyn McCreary makes two point layup (Jalen Cobb assists)
63-65
5:51
Bears 30 second timeout
5:51
TV timeout
5:26
+3
Javon Small makes three point jump shot
63-68
5:11
RJ Felton shooting foul (Kamar Robertson draws the foul)
5:11
+1
Kamar Robertson makes regular free throw 1 of 2
64-68
5:11
Kamar Robertson misses regular free throw 2 of 2
5:11
Pirates defensive rebound
4:53
Javon Small turnover (bad pass)
4:37
Benjamin Bayela personal foul (Jalyn McCreary draws the foul)
4:37
+1
Jalyn McCreary makes regular free throw 1 of 2
65-68
4:37
Jalyn McCreary misses regular free throw 2 of 2
4:37
Brandon Johnson defensive rebound
4:17
+2
Brandon Johnson makes two point layup (Jaden Walker assists)
65-70
3:55
+2
Luis Hurtado, Jr. makes two point layup
67-70
3:30
+3
RJ Felton makes three point jump shot (Javon Small assists)
67-73
3:14
+2
Jalyn McCreary makes two point layup (Kamar Robertson assists)
69-73
3:00
Pirates 30 second timeout
3:00
TV timeout
2:37
RJ Felton misses two point jump shot
2:36
Pirates turnover (shot clock violation)
2:19
+3
Jalen Cobb makes three point jump shot (Jah Quinones assists)
72-73
2:01
+2
Javon Small makes two point layup
72-75
2:01
Kamar Robertson shooting foul (Javon Small draws the foul)
2:01
Javon Small misses regular free throw 1 of 1
2:01
Shawn Walker Jr. defensive rebound
1:51
Jah Quinones misses three point jump shot
1:49
RJ Felton defensive rebound
1:19
Kamar Robertson shooting foul (Brandon Johnson draws the foul)
1:19
Brandon Johnson misses regular free throw 1 of 2
1:19
Brandon Johnson misses regular free throw 2 of 2
1:19
Bears defensive rebound
1:12
Bears 30 second timeout
1:03
Luis Hurtado, Jr. misses two point layup
1:01
Javon Small defensive rebound
0:53
Pirates 30 second timeout
0:38
Javon Small turnover (bad pass) (Jalen Cobb steals)
0:31
+2
Jalyn McCreary makes two point layup (Jalen Cobb assists)
74-75
0:20
Shawn Walker Jr. personal foul (Quentin Diboundje draws the foul)
0:20
+1
Quentin Diboundje makes regular free throw 1 of 2
74-76
0:20
+1
Quentin Diboundje makes regular free throw 2 of 2
74-77
0:14
Bears 30 second timeout
0:07
Jalen Cobb misses three point jump shot
0:05
Jaden Walker defensive rebound
0:04
Kamar Robertson personal foul (Jaden Walker draws the foul)
0:04
Jaden Walker misses regular free throw 1 of 2
0:04
Jaden Walker misses regular free throw 2 of 2
0:04
Luis Hurtado, Jr. defensive rebound
0:01
Benjamin Bayela personal foul (Luis Hurtado, Jr. draws the foul)
0:01
+1
Luis Hurtado, Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2
75-77
0:01
Pirates 30 second timeout
0:01
Luis Hurtado, Jr. misses regular free throw 2 of 2
