ECU Faces Coastal Carolina In First Road Game
December 17, 2010 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 17, 2010
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| THE MATCHUP |
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| Category | East Carolina | Coastal Carolina | |
| W-L | 7-3 | 8-2 | |
| Avg. Points | 72.6 | 78.8 | |
| Avg. Points Allowed | 64.8 | 64.0 | |
| Rebound Margin | +1.7 | +5.4 | |
| Field Goal Percentage | .456 | .492 | |
| FG Percent Defense | .409 | .411 | |
| 3FG% | .358 | .318 | |
| Free Throw Percentage | .675 | .716 | |
| Turnover Margin | -2.6 | +4.4 | |
| TEAM STAT LEADERS |
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| Points | J. Sherrod 12.3 | D. Holloway 18.4 | |
| Rebounds | D. Morrow 5.4 | M. Holmes 10.0 | |
| Assists | B. Young 4.4 | K. Greenwood 3.4 | |
| Blocks | D. Morales 1.7 | S. McLaurin 1.7 | |
| Steals | C. Gaines 1.8 | D. Holloway 1.9 | |
After playing a home dominant schedule during the first five weeks of the season, East Carolina will play its first road game of the season Saturday afternoon against Coastal Carolina at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center.
It's been 10 days since the Pirates took the court and suffered their first home loss in seven games inside Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum this year.
ECU (7-3) had won five in a row prior to Old Dominion's visit on Dec.7, which ended the Pirates' overall and home court winning streaks with an 81-68 victory.
"We had too many turnovers that led to easy baskets", Pirate coach Jeff Lebo said. "[Old Dominion] took our will when we had the turnovers because they led to lay-ups. That's heartbreaking and frustrating and was the difference in the game."
The Pirates had won five consecutive games behind the strength of its defense holding each opponent under 40 percent shooting. The Monarchs shot 54.4 percent and ended the game on a 17-5 run.
It was the second time this season that ECU yielded more than 80 points and allowed an opponent to shot over 50 percent. North Carolina State also turned the trick on the Pirates, resulting in the first loss of the year.
Senior Jamar Abrams scored a season-high 22 points against ODU on 9-of-16 shooting from the floor, including 4-of-10 behind the arc. Junior Darrius Morrow added 14 points for the Pirates, who finished shooting 50 percent (24-48) from the field.
ECU is 1-1 following a loss this season and will look to avoid back-to-back losses for the first time in its six game series with the Chanticleers (8-2). Coastal posted a 63-55 win over the Pirates the last time they met on Dec. 28, 2008.
Only seven players on the current rosters participated in that game, four of which comprise the Pirates' 2011 senior class. Brock Young had 16 points and eight assists in the loss.
The Chanticleers have won six straight since losing to Georgetown in the opening round of the Charleston Classic, punctuated by a 78-69 overtime victory at LSU Monday.
University of South Carolina transfer Mike Holmes became eligible prior to the game in Baton Rouge and posted a double-double in his first game in a Chanticleer uniform with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Junior Desmond Holloway leads Coastal Carolina with 18.4 points per game.
"They're good and they're used to winning," Lebo said. "They've got two SEC guys inside [Chad Gray and Michael Holmes] and their guards are very good and very crafty. We are a little bit bigger than them in the backcourt and we've got to be able to take advantage of that."
The Pirates are limiting their opponents to 64.8 points per game, while the Chanticleers are averaging 78.8 points. ECU is undefeated this season when holding it's opponent to 70 points or less (7-0), while Coastal hasn't won this year when scoring under 70 (0-2).
