Pirates Roll In Exhibition Finale
November 13, 2003 | Men's Basketball
GREENVILLE, N.C. ? East Carolina cruised to a 102-56 win over the Charlotte Stars in an exhibition game here Thursday night to conclude the preseason at 2-0 for the third time in five years under head coach Bill Herrion.
The Pirates had six players scoring in double figures led by sophomores Corey Rouse and Belton Rivers. Rouse recorded his second consecutive double-double in exhibition play with 16 points and 10 rebounds while Rivers scored 16 points on 6-for-12 shooting from the floor.
East Carolina never trailed the Stars, starting off the game on a 27-9 run and leading at the half, 47-28. The Pirates scored 14 points off seven dunks in the first half alone. ECU finished the game with 11 dunks after recording 13 in its preseason opener against World HoopStars.
ECU went on an 18-0 run eight minutes into the second half extending its lead to 80-42 with 6:29 to play after a Rivers' three-pointer.
Freshmen Frank Robinson and Mike Cook also scored double digits, finishing with 15 and 12 points respectively. Senior Derrick Wiley and junior Moussa Badiane finished with 10 points each. Freshman point guard Japhet McNeil recorded double figure assists for the second consecutive game with 11 assists here tonight.
The Pirates shot 53.3 percent from the field on 40-of-75 shooting with assists on 27 made baskets. The defense played extremely well, holding the Stars to 39.3 percent shooting from the floor and forcing 30 turnovers and committed 16 steals.
"I am pleased with the effort that our kids gave for 40 minutes", said Herrion. "We didn't know what to expect from this basketball team that we played tonight because it was their first game. Obviously they were a much more athletic and more talented team than the one we saw a week ago, and that it helped me get a better feel for our team."
The Pirates have scored over 100 points in both exhibition games this year, outscoring their opponents by a combined score of 206-87. ECU has now finished exhibition play 2-0 for the third time under Bill Herrion.
The Stars were lead by Charles Ward who scored 13 points and pulled down nine rebounds. Former ECU players Travis Holcomb-Faye and Brandon Hawkins both started for Charlotte against their former teammates. Holcomb-Faye finished with nine points and three rebounds, while Hawkins also finished with nine points on 4-of-5 shooting.
East Carolina will open regular season play on Saturday, Nov. 22 at home versus Campbell. The game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. in Minges Coliseum.
Postgame Notes
?East Carolina finished the exhibition season 2-0 under Bill Herrion for the
third time in five years. The Pirates also went undefeated during their two
exhibition games in 1999 and 2001.
?Sophomore Corey Rouse recorded a double-double in each of the exhibition
games. Rouse averaged 18 points and 12.5 rebounds in the two games.
?In two exhbition games, freshman Japhet McNeil dished out a combined
total of 23 assists. He handed out 12 assists in the first exhibition game and
gave out another 11 tonight.
?ECU averaged 103 points and won by an average margin of 64.5 points,
outscoring its opponents 206-87.
?The Pirates had six players score double figures in each of its exhibition
games with Corey Rouse, Belton Rivers, Frank Robinson and Derrick Wiley
reaching double figures twice.
?During its two preseason games, ECU made a total of 85 field goals and
recorded an assist on 53 made baskets.
