Pirates Pound Mount Olive to Match Best Start Ever
December 14, 2002 | Men's Basketball
GREENVILLE, N.C. -- East Carolina remained unbeaten through seven games, matching the best start in school history, with a 90-62 win over Mount Olive here Saturday night. The only previous time that ECU began a season 7-0 was 1953-54.
Defense has been the Pirates' trademark during the early going this season and once again in the second half, ECU used its defensive pressure to hold Mount Olive (5-1) to just 10 points for the first 14 minutes of the half and surged ahead by as many as 37, 75-38, with 6:04 left in regulation.
"Right now this team is built on defense and we cannot sacrifice the defensive end of the floor at all, particularly when we go to the bench," said Pirate head coach Bill Herrion. "I don't think we played particularly well though. I thought we had some really good indivdual performances."
The Pirates have held each of their first seven opponents to under 40 percent shooting from the floor, including two opponents under 30 percent shooting. The Trojans shot just 28.1 percent from the field.
Freshman Belton Rivers scored 12 of his career-high 21 points in the first 4:46 of the second half and gave ECU a 21-point lead, 53-32, after leading by 11 at the break, 39-28. Sophomore Moussa Badiane also established a new career-high with 19 points. He also blocked four shots and grabbed seven rebounds.
While only Badiane and Rivers scored double digits for East Carolina, 11 of the 12 players that played for the Pirates contributed at least four points. Freshman Corey Rouse, one of four players with six points, came off the bench to grab a career-best and team-best eight rebounds. Senior Travis Holcomb-Faye added to his career assists record total with six helpers.
Damieon Baker led Mount Olive with 20 points, while Marcus West added 10 points for the Trojans, who suffered their first loss of the season.
East Carolina will look to record its best start in school history Thursday night against George Mason. Tip-off is slated for 8 p.m. in Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum.
Postgame Notes
