Preview: East Carolina Looks to Sweep Season Series Against Texas-San Antonio SAN ANTONIO (Interstat) — Two American Athletic Conference men’s basketball teams seeking momentum will meet Wednesday when East Carolina visits Texas-San Antonio. The game at the Convocation Center (UTSA) pits the Pirates (9-18, 4-10 AAC) against the Roadrunners (5-22, 2-12). Despite both residing near the bottom of the league standings, East Carolina enters with confidence from a recent head-to-head victory. East Carolina defeated UTSA 88-72 in Greenville, North Carolina, on Feb. 11. The Pirates will aim for a season sweep behind forward Giovanni Emejuru, who has been a consistent force. In the first meeting, Emejuru scored 12 points and blocked three shots in 30 minutes. He is averaging a double-double over his last five games, including a 10-point, 12-rebound performance in a 68-56 loss at Charlotte on Saturday. The Pirates have shown sporadic competitiveness, with recent wins over Rice and Florida Atlantic, but have lost three of their last four. In the overtime loss to Wichita State on Feb. 18, Emejuru played 47 minutes and scored 16 points. Texas-San Antonio’s season has been defined by struggles, particularly on defense. The Roadrunners have lost 10 of their last 11 games and are allowing 83.2 points per game in conference play. Their most recent outing was a 100-74 defeat at Tulsa on Sunday. Guard Dorian Hayes will be a key for UTSA. He led the team with 19 points in the loss to Tulsa, but was held to just one point in 11 minutes in a 60-52 home loss to Florida Atlantic on Feb. 18. Finding consistent scoring outside of Hayes and Jamir Simpson, who had 20 points against Tulsa, remains a challenge. East Carolina’s offense, which produced 88 points in the first matchup, will test a UTSA defense that has conceded 100 points twice in its last six games. Beyond Emejuru, the Pirates have relied on Jordan Riley (20 points vs. Charlotte) and Corey Caulker (16 points vs. Charlotte). The Roadrunners will look to leverage their home court, where they earned one of their two AAC wins this season against Charlotte on Feb. 15. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. EST Wednesday. For East Carolina, the game represents a chance to build a modest winning streak before hosting Memphis on March 1. For Texas-San Antonio, it is an opportunity to halt a skid and gain revenge from earlier this month.