2026_Jan12_TEC

PIRATES MEN’S BASKETBALL MIDSEASON RECAP A6 to

East

Carolinian The

YOUR CAMPUS NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1925

VOLUME 100, ISSUE 41

Monday, 1.12.26

ECU staff member struck by vehicle at College Hill Sheilia Suggs TEC STAFF

COURTESY OF EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY

A variety of different students walking to and from class on ECU's campus near the Bate Bulding and the water fountain.

Students weigh in on new semester Madison Lanier TEC STAF F

With a new semester beginning, students have returned to Greenville for the start of new classes, new schedules, and new opportunities.

New spring sports seasons are approaching, student organizations are returning to their regularly scheduled meetings, and campus is gearing up for the spring semester and for this upcoming year.

Whether it is new classes, new routines, or new sports, this next semester brings a lot of excitement for students.

“I look forward to studying new subjects in classes that interest me and excite me! And I’m pretty excited for baseball season,” Sophomore and Political Science major Rilie Anderson.

During the new year, often times people set goals, resolutions, or hopes for the new year.

Whether it be academic goals, personal wellness goals, or just a new hobby to try. The new semester is a great time for students to begin working on these goals.

“This semester I hope to make good grades

in all my classes and cherish the precious moments I share with my friends,” Anderson said.

As students begin their new routines and schedules they gear up for a semester filled with sporting events, academic conferences, club meetings, academic research and much more.

With this comes both nerves and excitement for students.

“I feel a little nervous to start this semester, but excited to get back into the routine of things, “ Anderson said. “Im excited to be back in Greenville with my friends, classmates, and professors that support me at ECU”.

I am very excited for this upcoming semester. I am ready to get into my classes and get into a new routine. I am ready to start new and challenging classes. I am also looking forward to getting back involved with all that ECU offers such as clubs, sports, and other on and off campus students organizations.

According to WITN, an ECU employee was struck by a vehicle around noon Friday at the busy intersection’s divider. ECUPD says that a pickup truck hit the staff member traveling westbound on East 10th Street. The victim was conscious and was transported to ECU Health Medical Center.

East Carolina University Police are investigating a second vehicle-related incident at the intersection of East 10th Street and College Hill Drive. Police said an ECU employee was struck by a vehicle around noon on Friday. A pickup truck hit the staff member traveling westbound on East 10th Street. The victim was conscious and was transported to ECU Health Medical Center.

This incident involving a pedestrian comes after an ECU student was struck while crossing the same intersection. This has created heightened concern for students and local residents.

“Just had another person struck by a vehicle at 10th Street and College Hill. This only further emphasizes why we need a pedestrian bridge at this location. Praying for a full recovery for the pedestrian that was struck and this is why we have to act now,” Greenville Mayor P.J. Connelly said in a statement on Facebook.

Connelly expects urgency regarding construction of a pedestrian bridge this year in hopes to effectively reduce future accidents from occurring. He said that the North Carolina Department of Transportation granted permission for the layout and design of the bridge with the request to be part of the construction process.

ECU Deputy Chief Chris Sutton encourages students and drivers to use caution and limit distractions. Sutton also suggests that pedestrians watch out for incoming traffic and use the crosswalk light fixture to signal road crossing and for drivers to watch for pedestrians.

At this time, the staff member’s condition is unknown and the investigation is ongoing, with no charges filed.

SHEILIA SUGGS I THE EAST CAROLINIAN

The east 10th intersection where the ECU staff member was hit by a car.

This writer can be contacted at news@theeastcarolinian.com.

This writer can be contacted at news@theeastcarolinian.com.

Pirates lose to UAB in overtime thriller

Caleb Johnson T EC STAF F

ECU’s men’s basketball team (511, 0-3 American Athletic Conference) lost 87-85 in an overtime matchup against the University of Alabama at Birmingham (11-6, 2-2 AAC). Despite a second-half comeback and a tough-fought battle on the defensive end late in the game, the Pirates were not able to come away with the win.

East Carolina is now on a four-game losing streak, three of which were conference losses.

Senior guard Jordan Riley continues to shine, he had 30 points and 10 rebounds in Sunday’s outing. Sophomore forward Reid Cason and senior forward Giovanni Emejuru also recorded doubledoubles of their own. Cason finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds and Emejuru with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Sophomore guard Isaiah Mbeng recorded a team-high nine assists while also adding seven points and five rebounds.

The first half of this game was very close. The two teams were trading baskets for the full 20 minutes. At the 13-minute mark the Pirates had carved out a 15-10

COURTESY OF ECU ATHLETICS

Senior guard Jordan Riley gets a wide open dunk against The University of Alabama at Birmingham.

lead, this was the largest lead of the half for either side.

ECU was not able to hang onto its small lead and ended the half trailing 3937. At the half, the Pirates were winning the rebound battle 24-14 but still trailed. Riley and Cason had 22 of the team’s 37.

The Blazers opened the half on a 15-7 run in the first five minutes. This built UAB a sizable lead which they were able

to maintain for the majority of the second half. The Pirates did not give up though.

By the four-minute mark East Carolina had cut the Blazers lead to just five points. UAB led by as much as 12 prior to those final minutes.

A three-point shot from Riley sparked the run in the final four minutes that made it possible for the Pirates to force overtime. From that point on ECU scored

ONLINE » Greenville works to prevent crashes before they happen

five unanswered and took a 74-73 lead, their first of the half. UAB went on a 4-0 run of their own which gave them a three point lead.

Riley hit another two-point jumper to cut the lead back down to one.

The Blazers immediately responded with a layup of their own to bring their lead back to three points. In the final 10 seconds Mbeng knocked in a three-point basket from the right corner to send the game to overtime.

The overtime period opened much like the first half with both teams trading baskets. With two minutes left to play the game was tied at 85 following a jump shot from UAB. Neither team scored from that moment on until the 16-second mark when the Blazers scored on another jump shot giving them the 87-85 lead and the win.

East Carolina will travel to the Yuengling Center on Wednesday Jan, 14. to take on The University of South Florida (10-6, 2-1 AAC). The game will be played at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN+.

This writer can be contacted at news@theeastcarolinian.com.

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NEWS

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Monday, 1.12.26

CRIME LOGS Editor's Note: The East Carolinian Crime Logs are derived from East Carolina University Police Department’s (ECU PD) public crime logs accessible to all individuals.

Crime Logs are not done within the partnership of ECU PD and The East Carolinian, as this publication is meant to act as an additional resource for Pirate Nation. Below are listings of criminal activity that has occurred on or within proximity of main campus.

Jan, 3.

ECU police handled a simple assault incident at the Eakin Rec Center on campus. The incident took place around 4:05 p.m. The offender was cleared because the victim refused to cooperate.

Jan, 5.

ECU police caught someone with a half ounce of marijuana and drug paraphernalia at Sheetz at Charles Blvd. Prosecution was declined and the offender was cleared.

Jan, 7.

A Pitt County woman has been arrested and charged with animal cruelty. She reportedly neglected three dogs that died under her care while her husband was in jail.

Jan, 10.

A Greenville man was charged with a DWI and multiple drug charges. The offender reportedly fell asleep at the wheel, reeked of alcohol, and had cocaine in his wallet.

Jan, 11.

A Greenville man leads police on a 100 mile per hour car chase. The offender reportedly ran through multiple red lights and stop signs throughout the chase.

He was taken to Pitt County Detention Center and is being held without bond.

CORRECTIONS & CLARIFICATIONS If you feel there are any factual errors in this newspaper, please contact editor@theeastcarolinian.com.

Raleigh protests Renee Good shooting Drew Jackson

T HE NE W S & OB SERVER

Returning to the site of last summer’s No Kings protest, hundreds in Raleigh lined Capital Boulevard Sunday afternoon to demonstrate against an ICE agent’s killing of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis.

On Wednesday, videos of Good being fatally shot in her SUV by an ICE agent circulated widely on social media, becoming the latest political flashpoint amid the escalation of immigration enforcement.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem accused Good of ramming into the ICE agent, calling the shooting self-defense.

Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey, a Democrat, pushed back on the federal government’s characterization of Good’s actions.

The killing ignited protests across the country, including several over the weekend in the Triangle in Durham, Downtown Raleigh and on Capital Boulevard.

Sunday’s protest grew to about 300 people along the highway, nearly everyone carrying a sign denouncing Good’s death, like “It was murder,” and “You can’t lie to me — I saw the video.”

Betty Parker of Raleigh stood with a small American flag and made a Peace sign with her hand to passing cars. She has been attending protests several times per year since Donald Trump was inaugurated, starting during his first term with the Women’s March in Washington D.C. in early 2017.

Of the crowd assembled Sunday in Raleigh, Parker said she felt a groundswell of opposition to the ICE actions.

“Every one, I feel a little more hopeful,” Parker said of the protests. “Clearly everything that’s gone on since the first (Donald Trump) administration has defied all expectations. With each protest, people are growing more confident in standing up and making their voices heard.

But this isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon.”

Having seen the video of the killing of Good, a mother of three, Parker said she felt the country’s laws were being ignored.

“What is happened is the total disregard of the rules and laws of our country,” she said.

Tammy Pacenza held up a sign reading “It was murder” written out in skinny marker on a white poster board.

“I had to be here to make my

DREW JACKSON I THE EAST CAROLINIAN

A group of people protesting the recent shooting Renee Good in Raleigh.

voice heard,” she said. “I come to these things when I feel like I need to—I can’t just sit at home, I want to be a good citizen. And I saw that video hundreds of times on every network and it was murder.”

Traffic continued to flow unimpeded along the busy suburban stretch of Capital Boulevard, flanked by big box stores and the Triangle Town Center. Horns from passing cars often honked in support, from convertible sports cars to semitrucks.

A dissenting driver in a Cybertruck honked while holding up a middle finger to protesters and a passenger filmed the crowd.

Tom Pawlak dressed in a blue jacket in the style of the Continental Army during the American Revolution, complete with a Tricorne hat. “This is our moment to look ourselves in the mirror as a country and as a people, and bring love back,” Pawlak said.

This writer can be contacted at news@theeastcarolinian.com.

Arts & Entertainment theeastcarolinian.com

A3 Monday, 1.12.26

EVENTS

TOMORROW Open Mic Night at Nash

Nash Hot Chicken, 114 East 5th Street, Greenville, NC 27858 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM 252-999-5444

WEDNESDAY Qwister Live at Black Rose Bottling Co. Black Rose Bottling Co. 901 Dickinson Ave, Greenville, NC 27834 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM 252-751-6255

Uptown Brewing Trivia

Uptown Brewing Company, 418 Evans Street, Greenville, NC 27858 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM 252-689-6487

FRIDAY COURTESY OF “THE DAILEY GAMECOCK“

Museum Tour at GMoA

Greenville Museum of Art, 802 Evans Street, Greenville, NC 27858 12:00 AM to 12:00 AM 252-758-1946

BACK 2 THE BASS Feat: VYNZ, LSDJ, JAH, B2B, LOONEY

The State Theatre, 110 West 5th St , Greenville, NC 27858 8:30 PM to 11:00 PM

SATURDAY Beach Floyd – The Pink Floyd Experience Band

The State Theatre, 110 West 5th St , Greenville, NC 27858 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM

Steep Canyon Rangers With Hank, Pattie & the Current

Wright Auditorium, 100 Wright Cir, Greenville, NC 27858 2523284731, 7:30 PM to 11:59 PM

Buddhist Monks participating in the walk for peace in a 2,300 mile journey from Texas to Washington D.C. they are all carying their belongings and flowers.

Buddhist Monks to stop in Charlotte Joe Marusak T E C S TA F F

Buddhist monks walking from Texas to Washington, D.C., for peace should reach Charlotte by mid- to late next week, according to the group’s posts and maps on social media documenting their 2,300-mile journey.

“Let us walk together in spirit today — wherever you are, whatever you’re doing,” the group posted on Facebook Saturday morning as the 19 monks and Aloka the Peace Dog trekked from Lexington, South Carolina, toward Columbia.

“With each mindful breath you take, with each compassionate choice you make, you are helping peace bloom more beautifully in this world,” the monks wrote.

With a crowd of followers, the group reached the State House in Columbia around 1:30 p.m.

“May you and all beings be well, happy and at peace,” the monks said in a video post.

On Sunday, the monks headed north along U.S. 21 and intend to stop for the night in Smallwood, 29 miles north of Columbia, according to the live map of their walk.

The overall map of their walk says the monks could arrive in Charlotte any day through Tuesday, Jan. 20. Measuring the daily distance they’ve covered on their 120-day journey, The Charlotte Observer figured the monks’ arrival at mid- to late next week.

We’ll keep you posted.

The map also shows Greensboro and Raleigh, although the exact route is not included.

‘Couldn’t find parking’ One thing is certain: The monks draw crowds, so get ready, Charlotteans.

People drive from neighboring states as well to meet and kneel in prayer with them.

“We drove two hours to attend this event, but couldn’t

find parking within several miles when we got there,” a woman posted on the monks’ Walk for Peace Facebook page on Friday with an emoji of hands clasped in prayer.

Although she never got close to the monks, “seeing so many people engaging this way brought me hope,” the woman said.

Local police and sheriff ’s deputies in cars with sirens flashing escort the monks through their towns and counties — after they pose for photos and video with them.

If you’re lucky enough to get close, the monks hand out free blessing cords — “a token of loving-kindness and peace,” according to the Walk for Peace website.

The walk began with 19 Buddhist monks leaving Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth, Texas, on Oct. 26, The News & Observer reported.

Their dog Aloka has his own social media following. Aloka was found by Bhikkhu Panna-

kara, vice president of the center and spiritual leader of the walk, during a peace walk in India, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported.

“I ask for your permission to lead this journey,” Pannakara said, sitting before a statue of the Buddha, according to the Star-Telegram. “In this journey, we have two senior monks — one from Laos who is 70 years old — and monks from Taiwan and Vietnam. Wherever we go, monks from that location will join us for two to three days,” he said.

Sunday morning, a smaller crowd greeted the monks as they resumed their walk.

On Facebook, the monks said they have been “deeply touched to see people using our Live Map to track our route and meet us along the road throughout the day. Your dedication to finding us, to sharing even a brief moment of this journey, moves our hearts profoundly.”

This writer can be contacted at arts@theeastcarolinian.com.

Martin Luther King Jr. Dream Day back with parade & more Concord Tribune

ED ITO R I A L B O A R D

KANNAPOLIS — Join the celebration of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Events will take place Thursday through Monday, Jan. 15-19.

The theme for this year’s Martin Luther King Jr. celebration is “Keep On Moving!” Attendees can expect a weekend filled with reflection, education and community, as we come together to celebrate the enduring impact of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The schedule Activities include: Wreath Laying Ceremony in Concord – On Thursday, Jan. 15, there will be a Wreath Laying Ceremony starting at 6 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church in Concord.

Keeper of the Dream Awards Banquet – Join the celebration on Friday, Jan. 16, at 6 p.m. for the Keeper of the Dream Awards Banquet. This event will be held at the Laureate Center, 401 Laureate Way, Kannapolis.

This is a ticketed event, and tickets are currently on sale at https://bit.ly/KeeperoftheDream.

The Dream Day Parade – The Martin Luther King Jr. Dream Day Parade will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 19, in Kannapolis. The parade will be comprised of a variety of local cheer and dance teams, marching bands, civic organizations and corporate groups.

COURTESY OF “THE BUZZ MAGAZINES“

Pictured is a flag of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s face over top of a waving American flag with a quote reading “Yesterday’s dream is today’s reality.”

The parade will begin at the intersection of Main Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue and travel down Main Street to Laureate Way, ending at City Hall, 401 Laureate Way. Be aware that partial street closures will begin at 10:50 a.m. to accommodate the parade.

Dream Day Events - Following the parade, there will be several free activities at the Laureate Center, at Kannapolis City Hall, from noon to 3 p.m.

You and your family are welcome to attend and enjoy: * Minority Business Fair * Health & Wellness Fair * Local Nonprofit Organization Fair * Historically Black College and University (HBCU) Information Fair * Art Contest * And more

Enter the MLK art contest Submit an entry for the MLK art contest, open to Cabarrus County students aged 4-18, by Tuesday, Jan. 13, at https://bit. ly/MLKartcontest.

Events are sponsored by the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Planning Committee of Concord-Cabarrus and the city of Kannapolis.

This writer can be contacted at arts@theeastcarolinian.com.

Opinion

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theeastcarolinian.com

OUR VIEW

Remember to stop and smell the flowers this spring With the spring 2026 semester starting, it is important to remember to just breathe. After a three week break it can be very hard to get back into the swing of things. The combination of life, work, and school can be a breaking point for anyone, however, it is important to remember that you are here for a reason and that you will make a difference because of it.

It is important to stop and smell the flowers this spring, because this is college and it is only what you make of it. Anytime you are stressed, do something that makes you happy no matter what it is.

Whether it is listening to music, taking a jog in nature, or talking to a loved one, you need to have an outlet to release stress.

Stress is temporary but what you are doing here is important and will last a lot longer than any stress getting you down.

Whether you are an upperclassman soon to be graduating or a freshman just getting their start here, life is full of ups and downs, and having an outlet is important to have good mental health. If an outlet is not helping with stress, talk to someone.

Counseling can be very helpful and help you understand things about yourself that you never would have thought otherwise.

Remember, it is okay to not be okay. We are all humans and we are not perfect.

PIRATE RANTS The East Carolinian does not endorse the statements made in Pirate Rants.

Why does everyone wait until the last minute to move in for the Spring semester?? Ya’ll had all weekend and now everyone and their mother is crowding up the streets and hallways.

I dont wanna be back either, but this congestion is terrible!

ECU parking is getting out of control.

There is no reason why I should be getting 2 tickets in a day.

The food on campus needs to improve. No healthy options.

Slow walkers on the way to class are gonna make me so late.

Professors here need to get to the point when they lecture. I can’t do it with all the background talk wasting my time.

On campus job pay sucks.

Crosswalk safety needs to be improved. People can’t keep getting hit.

Does SGA even do anything?

Where are all the fun classes?

Questions regarding Pirate Rants can be directed to editor@theeastcarolinian.com.

Submit your Pirate Rants on our website under the opinion tab or scan the QR code.

Monday, 1.12.26

Learn before posting

COURTESY OF TRIBUNE

Monks take their walk for peace. Some carry flags while others carry flowers in hand given to them by the people who are witnessing their walk.

Sheilia Suggs T E C S TAFF

A few weeks ago, the world was introduced to a brave group of 19 Buddhist monks, accompanied by a stray dog, Aloka. These monks have made a long trek from Fort Worth, Texas with the journey culminating in Washington, D.C. As social media is platforming the monks’ expedition and Aloka their dog companion, people must first learn the motive behind the walk.

This is a journey of spreading peace.

I, like most young people, was unaware of the monks’ mission until stumbling into a post on Instagram just days before Christmas. My family was unaware of this, as we were preparing for the upcoming holiday. I decided to follow along and keep

an eye on my social media feeds for more content regarding the venerable monks.

After reading a caption from the monks’ official page, I wonder why this is important to us now. It became clear that the mission was to promote kindness, compassion, and peace.

Throughout the course of my holiday in Maryland, I decided to document this event in hopes of helping others understand that this is more than just a walk. There were overwhelming moments where the monks have dealt with polarizing religious viewpoints, a few unfortunate injuries, and social media influencers using this event as a way to stream for content purposes without consent.

This also had me thinking about what

people can do as a collective to support the cause without interference.

The monks have reached South Carolina, traveling a minimum distance of 30-40 miles daily and will be expected to reach North Carolina by Jan. 20. While we may not be on the travel path, we can, as Pirates and Eastern North Carolinians, educate ourselves about the Buddhist monks’ movement for worldwide peace as unprecedented events unfold. In a time where things are uncertain, the venerable monks and Aloka are reminding us that peace is inevitable.

This writer can be contacted at Opinion@theeastcarolinian.com.

Holocaust Education is essential for highschools Olivia Harrell, Sydney Bowser, Sierra Askew, Madison Melrose, and Ren Ellington GUE S T COLU MN ISTS

It is imperative to increase Holocaust education in high schools in an effort to prevent the rise of antisemitism. In 2023, the Anti-Defamation League surveyed 4,000 Americans and found that 85% believe in at least one stereotype surrounding antisemitism. When compared to 1991, antisemitism has risen by 24% (Merksamer, 2024, p.

680).

To combat this rise, the United States has passed legislation that mandates Holocaust education into public school curricula. Given that this is a civil-state-based legislation, the mandates per state vary widely in detail and strength. A strong mandate requires four characteristics.

They must require the inclusion of Holocaust education within public schools and not

COURTESY OF TOURIST ISRAEL

A group of attendees stands at The Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial.

merely recommend it; they must apply the requirement to specific curriculum standards; they must create a task force or commission; and lastly, they

must have appropriate funding to support the commission.

Both North Carolina and Texas are examples of strong mandates, as North Carolina has

started mandating Holocaust education in High Schools and Texas has mandated a Holocaust Remembrance Week.

The Gizella Abramson Act was signed on November 18, 2021, and was put into action at the start of the 2023 academic school year at High Schools within North Carolina.

The act specifically mandated Holocaust education to be taught by teachers who have well-rounded knowledge on the topic.

The NC Council on the Holocaust helps recruit and support county coordinators to supply teachers with relevant information and literacy on the Holocaust. An anonymous survey was conducted to ask current and previous students what they learned about the Holocaust in their schools.

This writer can be contacted at Opinion@theeastcarolinian.com.

OUR STAFF Trisha Rangaraju

Editor-in-Chief

Candon Johnson

Opinion Editor

Ava Streithorst

Advertising Design Manager

Dakota Hamm

News Editor

Caleb Johnson

Sports Editor

Phoebe Gregg

Multimedia Manager

Alexa Anderson

A&E Editor

Hannah Thomas

Production Manager

Serving ECU since 1925, The East Carolinian is an independent, student-run publication distributed every Wednesday during the academic year and during the summer. The opinions expressed herein are those of the student writers, columnists and editors and do not necessarily reflect those of the faculty, staff or administration at East Carolina University or the Student Media Board. Columns and reviews are the opinions of the writers; “Our View” is the opinion of The East Carolinian Board of Opinions.

As a designated public forum for East Carolina University, The East Carolinian welcomes letters to the editor limited to 500 words. Letters may be rejected or edited for libelous content, decency and brevity. All letters must be signed and include a telephone number.

One copy of The East Carolinian is free. Each additional copy is $1. Unauthorized removal of additional copies from a distribution site constitutes theft under North Carolina law. Violators will be prosecuted.

Contact Info The East Carolinian Mendenhall Ground Floor, Suite G51, Greenville, NC, 27858-4353

Email: editor@theeastcarolinian.com Newsroom: (252) 328-9238 Ads: (252) 328-9245 Fax: (252) 328-9143

Classifieds & Puzzles

A5 Monday, 1.12.26

theeastcarolinian.com

CLASSIFIEDS

CROSSWORD

FOR RELEASE FEBRUARY 4, 2024

THE TV CROSSWORD

by Ricky Cruz

COMICS BREWSTER ROCKIT

BLISS

Created by Ricky Cruz

2/4/24

ACROSS 1 Katey Sagal’s “Married... with Children” role 4 “Jack Ryan” agcy.

7 “Mamma Mia!” pop group 11 As a minimum 13 One of the Great Lakes 14 “Stranger Things” dimension 16 Take to the air 17 Word before “clock” or “bomb” 18 Hurt, as a reputation 20 Soup utensils 23 Optima manufacturer 24 Hank Schrader’s org. in “Breaking Bad” 25 “___ Street” 28 Family-friendly, as a TV show 31 Prefix meaning “three” 32 Musician/activist Yoko 33 Western bar 37 Tommy Carcetti in “The Wire”, e.g.

40 The Winchesters’ vehicle in “Supernatural” 42 Count ___ of “A Series of Unfortunate Events” 44 ABC series set in Storybrooke Solution to Last Week’s Puzzle Solution from Thursday

WHERE’S PEEDEE?

©2024 Tribune Content Agency, LLC All Rights Reserved.

2/4/24

47 Menial workers 48 Spencer of “Truth Be Told” 49 Roman and Connor, to Logan in “Succession” 50 Casual top 51 NYC winter clock setting DOWN 1 New England NFL team, familiarly 2 Moral climate 3 A ___ in one’s eye 4 Headwear for Ash Ketchum 5 Co-creator and star of “Insecure” 6 Keeping busy 7 Podcast form 8 Gentleman’s agreement in “How I Met Your Mother” 9 Fiddler’s need 10 Rashida Jones’s “Parks & Rec” role 12 Sci-fi comedy series with Colin Ferguson 13 Cannabis plant 15 Uno + uno 19 Archer’s skill 21 Flanders of “The Simpsons” 22 Put into words 25 Nicholas and Valentine, for two (abbr.)

26 Film history’s “silent ___” 27 HBO’s “___ Valley” 28 “The Love Boat” genre 29 Ortiz of “Ugly Betty” 30 “Let’s go places” automaker 34 Neil Gaiman series “Good ___” 35 Magnum ___ 36 Quick rest 38 ___ Oyl 39 “Caddyshack” director 41 Pirate’s yield 43 Achievement 44 “ER” procedures, briefly 45 “The Matrix” hero 46 Had, as popcorn

SUDOKU

Level 1

2

3

4

Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, please visit sudoku.org.uk

Solution to

Solution from Thursday Saturday’s puzzle

1/12/26

© 2026The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. All rights reserved.

Sports

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theeastcarolinian.com

TECSPERTZ The East Carolinian Sports experts predict this week’s events

Caleb Johnson TEC Sports Editor

ECU VS. team Score Prediction?

88-69 USF

Why?

I think that the Pirates will drop this game against USF, especially on the road. The pirates are currently on a four game losing streak and are struggling to find production outside of Jordan Riley. I expect USF to take care of business on their home floor against a lesser ECU squad.

Monday, 1.12.26

Pirates men’s basketball midseason recap Logan Harlow T E C STAFF

At the midpoint of the season, the ECU men’s basketball team is instead 5-11 overall and 0-3 in American Athletic Conference (AAC) play. A record that shows how tough the first half of the year has been for the Pirates.

Cannon Gates

WZMB Station Manager

ECU VS. team Score Prediction?

USF 81-71

Why?

USF is a very solid and the Pirates have had a tough year. I don’t see them winning in this matchup against the Bulls who have 5 guys who average over 12 points per game.

Nick Green

WZMB Sports & News Director

ECU VS. team Score Prediction?

USF 85-78

Why? The Pirates have been struggling all season.

Outside of Jordan Riley and Gio Emejuru the team has struggled to find production. USF is highly explosive on the offensive end,I expect them to come out with the win.

ECU has competed in most games, but wins have been hard to come by clearly given our record, especially as the schedule has shifted toward conference play.

The Pirates have done their best work on the defensive end. Even in losses, ECU has managed to keep games close by forcing opponents into difficult shots and limiting easy scoring opportunities. That effort has allowed the Pirates to stay within reach late in games, though defensive breakdowns at key moments have still hurt them.

Offense has been the bigger issue through the first half of the season. ECU has struggled to score consistently, averaging just

around 67 points per game while shooting about 40 percent from the field. The problems are even more noticeable in the half-court, where the Pirates are hitting only around 25 percent from three-point range and averaging roughly 11 assists per game, a sign of limited ball movement and shot creation There have been individual bright spots despite the struggles. Senior guard Jordan Riley has consistently carried the scoring load and has been one of the few reliable offensive options night to night. Senior forward Giovanni Emejuru has provided steady production inside with his rebounding and interior presence. Guards, like junior Corey Caulker, have also had moments where they’ve helped stabilize the offense and create looks for others. Even as losses have piled up, the effort level has remained steady, helping keep ECU competitive in stretches and showing there is still belief within the group despite the record.

Close games have played a big role in where ECU sits at 5-11. The Pirates have had chances to win multiple games late, but turnovers, missed free throws, and mistakes on defense have repeatedly cost them. Cleaning up those issues could make a noticeable difference in the second half of the season.

As ECU moves deeper into conference play,

COURTESY OF ECU ATHELTICS

ECU mens basketball tipping off against CSU.

the focus will be on finding more consistent offense and finishing games. The Pirates have shown they can compete, but turning that effort into wins will determine how the rest of the season goes.

ECU’s next test comes Wednesday against The University of South Florida who are 10-6 overall and 2-1 in the AAC. The game will be played at the Yuengling Center in Tampa. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET, and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+. This road game gives ECU a chance to string together another quality performance and build momentum in the American Athletic Conference stretch.

This writer can be contacted at sports@theeastcarolinian.com.

ECU to host Tulsa

COURTESY OF ECU ATHLETICS I THE EAST CAROLINIAN

Kennedy Fauntelroy shooting a jump shot in ECU’s recent AAC matchup against Wichita State

Tyler Buonocore TEC STAFF

The East Carolina University women’s basketball team (11-6, 3-1 American Athletic Conference) hosts the Tulsa Golden Hurricane (11-4, 3-0 AAC) on Tuesday in a crucial early mid-season matchup that may shake up the conference standings. Both teams are off to good starts in conference play, combining for four wins and only one loss through five games.

Tulsa is coming into this game as winners of their last five games, including a road victory against Southeastern Conference powerhouse, The University of Florida (11-3, 8-1 SEC) in a big upset. The Golden Hurricanes were led by junior guard Mady Cartwright, who had 26 points that game. Cartwright is Tulsa’s leading scorer, putting up 16.4 points per game. She is also a key facilitator, ranking second on her team in assists per game.

Senior forward Hannah Riddick is the only other Tulsa player scoring in double figures, averaging 13.6 points per game, and providing a threat in the post.

ECU is coming into this matchup after defeating Wichita State University (3-14, 0-4 AAC) 83-56. The Pirates are led on the offensive end by sophomore guard Taylor Barner who leads the team with 13.9 points per game. Senior guard Kennedy Fauntleroy is also a threat on the offensive end averaging 12.1 points per game and leading the team in assists with 3.7 per game.

The two teams are separated by a tenth of a point in points scored per game while Tulsa gives up two less points per game than the Pirates on the defensive end. ESPN’s matchup predictor gives Tulsa a 52 percent chance to walk away with a win making them slight favorites.

Tulsa and ECU split their two matchups last season with each team winning on their own floor. The Pirates will look to continue the pattern on Tuesday at 6 p.m. when the game tips off. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ for those wanting to cheer on the Pirates.

This writer can be contacted at sports@theeastcarolinian.com.