An apparatus includes a binary content addressable memory (BCAM) to store a plurality of error protection code (ECC) generated codewords (CWs), the BCAM divided into segments (sub-BCAMs), wherein the sub-BCAMs are to respectively store pre-defined first portions of the CWs, and to store corresponding second portions of a search word. In embodiments, the apparatus further includes logic circuitry, to obtain partial match results between the first portions of the CWs and corresponding second portions of the search word, and identify one or more CWs of the plurality of CWs that match the search word, based at least in part on the partial match results, wherein the match indicates that data included in the one or more CW is the same as the data included in the search word.