ECU Opens C-USA Home Slate Against Tulane
January 14, 2011 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 14, 2011
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| THE MATCHUP |
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| Category | East Carolina | Tulane | |
| W-L | 8-7, 0-1 | 12-4, 2-1 | |
| Avg. Points | 69.3 | 74.8 | |
| Avg. Points Allowed | 64.7 | 63.7 | |
| Rebound Margin | +0.5 | +3.8 | |
| Field Goal Percentage | .438 | .449 | |
| FG Percent Defense | .407 | .440 | |
| 3-Point Percentage | .359 | .363 | |
| Free Throw Percentage | .688 | .739 | |
| Turnover Margin | -2.5 | +3.5 | |
| TEAM STAT LEADERS |
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| Points | J. Sherrod- 13.4 | K. Timmons - 17.8 | |
| Rebounds | D. Morrow - 5.5 | K. Timmons - 8.9 | |
| Assists | B. Young - 4.3 | J. Callahan - 4.1 | |
| Blocks | D. Morales 1.1 | K. Timmons - 0.9 | |
| Steals | C. Gaines - 1.7 | K. Timmons - 2.1 | |
GREENVILLE, N.C. --- Thirty-nine days.
That how long it has been since East Carolina has played in front of its fans inside Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum, where the Pirates are 6-1 this season.
East Carolina will play on its home court for the first time since early December Saturday as it hosts Tulane at 5 p.m., the Pirates' first of two Conference USA games in three days. It's been a week since the Pirates last took the floor and nearly sprung the upset on No. 21 Memphis on the road, falling by a measly three points.
The Pirates were supposed to host UAB this past Wednesday in their first C-USA home game of the season, but the winter weather storm that blanketed much of the Southeast forced the game to be postponed until Monday, Jan. 17.
Saturday's game will begin a stretch of four games in eight days with the final two games being on the road at No. 22 UCF Wednesday and at Marshall on Saturday.
"It's like a pro schedule," ECU coach Jeff Lebo said. "I know I our kids like it. They'd certainly like to play more than they'd like to practice. This is a time of year when you like to get out there and play. We won't have much prep time, so it'll be interesting to see how the kids respond."
The Pirates are hoping that a return to more familiar surrounding will help make it easier putting the ball in the basket. ECU is shooting 48.3 percent from the Williams Arena floor this season, including a 39.1 clip from behind the arc.
ECU shot under 40 percent in each of its last three games. Its lowest shooting percentage of the season at home was 42.1 percent in a one-point win over Charlotte.
Senior Jamar Abrams is particularly fond of his home court environment, averaging 12 points per game, while shooting 54.5 percent from the field and 47.2 percent from 3-point range. Fellow seniors Jontae Sherrod and Brock Young are also shooting more than 42 percent from behind the arc at home.
Sherrod has been the Pirates' top scorer in seven games and leads the team with 13.4 points per contest. He scored just eight points against Memphis and played only 15 minutes plagued with foul trouble.
Junior Darrius Morrow is coming off one of his best games of the year, scoring 17 points and grabbing eight rebounds at Memphis, closing out a five-game road swing by the Pirates.
ECU won its first six home games before dropping a 13-point decision to Old Dominion on Dec.7. The Pirates held each of their first six home court foes to 70 points or less.
Tulane is coming off its first home loss of the season falling to UTEP on Wednesday, 69-58. The loss snapped the Green Wave's six-game winning streak. Tulane is 4-3 on the road this season, but hasn't lost consecutive games all year.
Sophomore Kendall Timmons, who ranks fourth in C-USA in scoring (17.8 ppg) and third in rebounding (8.9 rpg), has scored 20 and 26 points in his last two games. He averaged 15.5 points in the two games against East Carolina last season.
Simmons is one of four players averaging double figures for Tulane, which ranks fifth in the league in scoring (74.8 ppg). Guards Jordan Callahan (12.8 ppg) and Kris Richard (13.5) rank among the league's top 20 scorers.
The Pirates swept the season series from the Green Wave last season, earning their first-ever win in New Orleans, 61-46, before outlasting them, 71-68, in Greenville.
