East Carolina University
Morgan State
Pirates Fall on the Road at Morgan State
December 18, 2006 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 18, 2006
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BALTIMORE (AP) - Jamar Smith scored a game-high 22 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead Morgan State to a 76-70 non-conference win over East Carolina Monday night, sending the Pirates to their fourth straight defeat.
Darrell Jenkins scored a team-high 18 points and picked up three rebounds for East Carolina (4-5). Courtney Captain also netted double figures with 14 points as did freshman John Fields, who was forced to leave the game with an injury, with 12 points.
Joseph McLean contributed 19 points and added three rebounds for Morgan (2-6). Ronald Timus and Boubacar Coly each added seven rebounds.
After Captain scored the game's opening basket with a three, which proved to be the Pirates' only lead of the game, Morgan State went on an 11-1 run to seize the early momentum. The Bears stretched their lead to 13 as McLean converted a 3-point play, giving MSU a 35-22 lead with two minutes remaining in the half.
The Pirates closed the half with a 7-1 spurt as freshman Brandon Evans came off the bench to score five points in the final 1:40; cutting the deficit to 36-29 at halftime.
The Bears quickly rebuilt their double digit lead as Smith scored eight of their first 12 second half points, including a pair of 3s. MSU maintained its double digit advantage until the final five minutes.
Jenkins brought the Pirates within eight, 65-57, with 4:30 remaining as he also converted a 3-point play after being fouled on a made basket.
After Jenkins cut the lead to six with a pair of free throws, Gabe Blair stole the ball and went the length of the floor to get the Pirates within four.
ECU then pulled within three with under a minute to play as Captain banked in a 3 from the wing. It was a close to the lead as it got.
Although the Pirates made a furious rally late in the game, the Bears calmly stepped to the free throw line and converted 11-of-12 free throws in the final 1:20 to earn a season-series split.
East Carolina returns to action Thursday night, December 21 against Winthrop. The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. start in Greenville.
