East Carolina University
North Carolina Central
Pirates Hold Off Eagles For Victory
January 03, 2010 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 3, 2010
Mack McCarthy Post-Game Press Conference 
| Chad Wynn and Jamar Abrams Post-Game Comments
From staff and wire reports
GREENVILLE, N.C. -- Darrius Morrow scored 17 points, Chad Wynn tallied a double-double and all five East Carolina starters scored in double figures to lead the Pirates over North Carolina Central 68-58 on Sunday. Wynn scored 12 points and grabbed a career-high 13 boards for the Pirates (6-8), who bumped their all-time record against N.C. Central to 3-0.
Jontae Sherrod added 13 points for East Carolina, while Jamar Abrams and Brock Young also finished with 12 points apiece.
The Pirates held a 13-point advantage midway through the first half behind the strength of a 15-0 run over a six-minute stretch. The Eagles missed 11 consecutive field goal attempts and committed three turnovers as ECU took advantage of those miscues and seized a 22-9 lead with 9:11 left before intermission.
NCCU responded with a 15-6 spurt of its own, capped by Vincent Davis' baseline dunk, to cut the Pirates' lead to four, 28-24. Sherrod's jumper from the free throw line extended on the ensuing possession gave ECU a six-point cushion, which was its halftime advantage. Sherrod scored the Pirates' final five points of the first half to push his team to a 33-27 lead at the break.
The Eagles continued to cut into the Pirates' lead in the second half. They pulled within 56-54 on Nick Chasten's jumper with just under five minutes to play, but Abrams and Sherrod each hit 3-pointers to spark a game-winning 12-4 run. NCCU committed four turnovers in the final five minutes.
C.J. Wilkerson scored 18 points to lead the Eagles (2-12), who have lost five in a row and 10 of their past 11.
The Pirates open Conference USA play Wednesday against 24th-ranked UAB. Tip-off is slated for 8 p.m. EST at Bartow Arena in Birmingham.
