Pirates Overcome Southern Miss for C-USA Win
February 08, 2003 | Men's Basketball
GREENVILLE, N.C. - East Carolina snapped its three-game conference-losing streak on Saturday as the Pirates (12-9, 3-7) overcame a nine-point deficit with 8:29 left for a thrilling 60-57 victory over the Southern Miss Golden Eagles (10-10, 3-6).
Travis Holcomb-Faye hit his first of three three-pointers in the second-half which gave the Pirates a 25-24 early second-half lead, but Jasper Johnson and Charles Gaines looked to be to much for the Pirates as they scored 24 of the Eagles next 26 points.
With 6:42 left in the game, the Pirates rallied on a lay up by Derrick Wiley and back-to-back three-pointers from Holcomb-Faye to pull even with the Eagles at 50 a piece.
Trailing, 50-41, with 8:53 left in the game, ECU went on a 15-0 run to take a six-point lead, 56-50, with 3:19 remaining in the contest. The Pirates held Southern Miss to just one field goal and seven points in the final nine minutes.
Derrick Wiley scored 17 second-half points and finished the game with 21 points marking the fifth time this season he has eclipsed the 20-point marker. Holcomb-Faye finished with 16 points and junior Erroyl Bing grabbed 14 rebounds to go along with his nine points.
"Derrick Wiley gave us a really big lift offensively," said Coach Bill Herrion. "That was the Derrick Wiley we saw back in November."
Sophomore center Moussa Badiane had two blocked shots on the night. Adding to his career total, which now stands at 140.
The Eagles jumped out to a 24-22-halftime lead behind the sharp shooting of Mario Myles. Myles was 3-of-4 from the three-point arc and scored all of his 15 points in the first half.
Gaines added 13 points and Jasper Johnson 10 for the Eagles.
The win for the Pirates marks the sixth time this season they have been able to come-from-behind at halftime to defeat their opponent.
East Carolina will travel to Saint Louis for a February 15 matchup with the Billikens.
Postgame Notes
Postgame Quotes
East Carolina Head Coach Bill Herrion
"I think obviously we were just struggling to put the ball in the basket. I think they were trying hard. I think there was great effort tonight. I thought the defense was pretty good most of the night."
"The kids really persevered. They hung in there. I was just very concerned about this time of year and whether winning was still a priority with these kids. I think the kids should a tremendous amount of resolve and resiliency just bouncing back."
"We've got as many wins as we had last year. We're still alive. It's just a great win for these kids."
On Jonathan Moore
"Even though he did not score many points, I'm just so proud of how far he's come
defensively. I thought he played a very solid basketball game. He's a kid that has so much energy. The
reason he started tonight, we just needed energy on this basketball team. He's learned to take care of the
ball. I thought he played a good game tonight."
On offensive rebounding
"I think because you miss so many shots, there's a lot of opportunity for offensive
rebounds. If we could only stick the ball back in the basket we'd be a pretty good basketball team."
"Derek Wiley gave us a really big lift offensively. That was the Derek Wiley we saw back in November."
Southern Miss Head Coach James Green
On Mario Myles
"They made some adjustments on him after he really had a great half. That was probably his
best half of basketball all year long. He is a senior and we like to see him going out and being assertive. He
did a nice job."
"We got Greg Johnson in foul trouble early and we didn't do a very good job of getting him really involved early in the game and I think that made a difference."
On front-court play
"We had trouble scoring around the basket just because they were playing so physical.
Them being physically tough was the difference in the game. That is why they were rebounding, that is why they
continued to guard us the way that they did. We just made some decisions that were not in our best interests
playing on the road."
On pace of the first half
"We thought we had it worked out early in the first half, we were playing quick, taking
some quick shots and then we started to move the ball with shots and lay-ups. We went in at half we allowed
them to score right before the half, that was a problem. The score was where we needed it to be--in the 20's."
On second half performance
"When we came out in the second half, we didn't quite guard them the same way
and obviously they got some offensive boards on us."
On guarding Derrick Wiley
"We played zone and we just didn't get out to him. When you play a zone and a guy is
making baskets you have got to know when he is your guy to guard when the ball is moving, when it hits his
hand you have to be right there with him and we didn't do that."
