Two competitive losses have put East Carolina in danger of dropping to 0-3 in the American Athletic Conference going into a league contest at home against Temple on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

The matchup will be shown on ESPN+.

The Pirates began AAC play with a 75-69 setback at South Florida on Dec. 31. Florida Atlantic held off ECU, 78-76, on Saturday in Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum.

While Coach Mike Shwartz doesn’t condone losing, he likes qualities his team has manifested in its AAC outings.

“I do like then fight in this team,” Shwartz said in a session with media on Tuesday. “If I had my pick, I wouldn’t get down double digits and have to rely on the intensity and competitiveness.”

Riley facing former team

Senior guard Jordan Riley will be facing his former team. Riley made 29 starts for the Owls last season, averaging 11.9 points and 6.0 rebounds.

He has started all 15 games in an 8-7 start for the Pirates. Riley is third on the team in scoring at 14.6 points per game and is fourth in rebounding at 6.2 per game.

Riley had 15 points for the Owls in a 73-62 loss to the Pirates in Philadelphia last season on Jan. 10. He scored 20 points with eight rebounds for Temple in a 70-64 overtime loss to ECU in Greenville on Jan. 28.

Series history

Temple leads the overall series with the Pirates, 11-6.

ECU and the Owls are 4-4 in games played in Greenville.

Tribute to Temple

Temple is No. 6 on the NCAA Division I wins list with 2,002.

The Owls began playing basketball in 1895, the earliest of any program among the top 50 in total victories.

Temple has 1,162 losses.

“Temple is playing really good basketball right now,” Shwartz said. “I know Coach (Adam) Fisher very well and have a ton of respect for him.

“Over the years, they’re one of the best teams in the country.”““““

Felton’s status

R.J. Felton had started 61 straight games for the Pirates before coming off the bench for 15 points against FAU on Saturday.

Felton’s production against Temple in the second meeting last season included 24 points and 11 rebounds.

Felton had 20 points and five rebounds in Philly.

The senior guard from Aiken, SC, is the team leader in scoring at 17.0 and is third in rebounding at 6.4.

Eye on the Owls

Temple is 9-5 overall and won its only league contest, 91-85, over visiting Wichita State on Friday.

The Owls have scored 91 points in their last two games.

Jamal Mashburn Jr. averages a team-high 20.4 points per game. which is third in the AAC. His dad starred at Kentucky and played 12 seasons in the NBA.

Temple is averaging 26.1 free throw attempts per game, which ranks ninth in NCAA Division I.

Next up

The schedule doesn’t get any easier for ECU as the next opponent will be Memphis on the road.

That challenge is set for Saturday at 2 p.m. and will be shown on ESPN+.

The Tigers (12-3, 2-0 AAC) are ranked No. 19 nationally by the Associated Press.

There is a 90 percent chance of snow in Memphis on Friday. The high will be 37 degrees on Saturday.