GREENVILLE — For the second time in as many years, East Carolina lost its Senior Day matchup in the dwindling moments of the game. Cincinnati deliberately marched down the field late in the fourth quarter before Andrew Gantz kicked a 42-yard field goal at the last second to win it, 19-16.

Bowl eligibility was in reach for the Pirates (5-7, 3-5 American Athletic Conference). The game was knotted at 16 apiece when they took over with 4:27 remaining. The offense went three-and-out, bringing in Worth Gregory to punt the ball away.

The Bearcats (7-5, 4-4 AAC) took over. They didn’t seem intent on settling for the aforementioned field goal. Quarterback Gunner Kiel opened the drive by looking deep to Alex Chisum. Travon Simmons nearly came up with a game-changing interception, but it slipped through his fingers, as did any possible postseason.

“I loved the plan we had, but we fell short,” said head coach Ruffin McNeill. “It was a pretty bad feeling down in that locker room.”

McNeill had a conversation with the players following the loss. He focused on the life lessons the players learn on the field. He said this team faced more adversity — especially in the form of injuries — than any other he had coached. They lost starting quarterback Kurt Benkert to a preseason knee injury. The offensive line was also plagued with injuries throughout the season.

“The kids worked hard,” McNeill said. “I told them in (the locker room), they’ve never had a day that they did not work hard. A lot of teams would have folded. A lot of teams would have quit. A lot of teams would not have been fighting like that today after the tough losses they’ve had. I’m very proud of them after that.”

ECU picked up right where it left off last weekend versus Central Florida. Blake Kemp commanded the game’s tempo early on, leading the Pirates on a 58-yard march all the way down to Cincinnati’s three-yard line. Things stalled out there, and Davis Plowman converted the chip shot to give ECU an early edge.

Settling for three points didn’t take any wind out of the Pirates’ sails. The defense forced the Bearcats three-and-out and ECU took over at its six-yard line. Kemp and company drove down 94 yards in 11 plays for a touchdown. Davon Grayson hauled in a 10-yard pass for the score to put ECU ahead 10-0 in the first stanza.

The offense began slipping after that, though. The Pirates had a promising drive in the second quarter. Chris Hairston ran for a loss twice and a holding call erased the possibility of opening the gap again after a Cincinnati touchdown closed it to 10-6.

“When we get the ball, we expect to score,” said Isaiah Jones. The junior receiver led the team with a dozen catches for 124 yards. “We expect to move the ball. Three-and-out is not what we like to do. It just sucks. I don’t know how else to describe it.”

The visitors took over in the third period. They switched to a more conservative approach and used their speed to pound ECU on the ground. The Bearcats opened the latter half with a drive that lasted 7:32. Mike Boone scampered one yard into the end zone to cap it off and put Cincinnati ahead 13-10.

“It was just little, different stuff,” said senior linebacker Zeek Bigger of Cincinnati’s second-half approach. “It wasn’t anything too major. We just got to be able to make plays and be able to see things. That’s really about it. They’re a good team.”

Gantz extended it to 16-10 with a 50-yard field goal in the last minute of the third. Despite ECU’s second-half offensive struggles, the Pirates siphoned away momentum to start the fourth quarter. They faced a fourth-and-two at the goal line, trailing by six. A field goal would put them within three with over 10 minutes to play, but McNeill and his staff took the aggressive route.

James Summers made his first appearance. He briefly relieved Kemp of his signal-calling duties to give Cincinnati a different look. It paid dividends when he connected with senior tight end Bryce Williams along the right sideline for the two-yard touchdown.

Summers got flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct, which backed up Davis Plowman’s point after try. He missed it, leaving the game tied at 16-16.

The loss brings the end to a rollercoaster season. This marks just the second time ECU hasn’t earned postseason eligibility in McNeill’s six years at the helm.