Pirates Close Out 2011 Saturday Against Virginia-Wise
December 30, 2011 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 30, 2011
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| East Carolina vs. Virginia-Wise Dec. 31, 2011 | 1 p.m. ET Greenville, N.C. TV: None |
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THE LATEST NEWS & NOTES
? East Carolina will look to earn its fifth consecutive win Saturday as it closes out non-conference play against Virginia-Wise. A victory would match the Pirates' longest winning streak from a year ago.
? The Pirates are 3-0 against non-Division I opponents this season, while Virginia-Wise is 0-3 against Division I foes with losses to Furman, Winthrop and Wofford (all exhibition games).
? East Carolina has shot over 40 percent from the field in four consecutive games after shooting under 36 percent in their previous three contests. ECU has made 91-of-210 field goal attempts the last three games (.433).
? The Pirates have averaged 80.7 points against non-Division I opponents this season, including 101 during the season-opener against Milligan.They are 6-0 against non-D1 foes the last two seasons under Jeff Lebo.
? ECU has won 12 straight games against non-Division I opponents.
? The Pirates rank among the top three in Conference USA in a trio of defensive categories, including 3-point field goal defense (1st), steals (1st) and scoring defense (3rd).
? East Carolina had more than three players score double digits for just the second time this year Thursday against NC Central. The Pirates are 2-0 when four of more players reach double figure scoring.
? At least one Pirate has grabbed double digit rebounds in seven of the last eight games. Maurice Kemp has recorded the feat three times.
? Miguel Paul, Shamarr Bowden, Erin Straughn, Maurice Kemp and Darrius Morrow have comprised the starting lineup each of the last four games. Each member of the foursome is averaging over 13 points during their current four-game winning streak (Paul 16.8, Kemp 14.5, Morrow 13.8, Bowden 13.5).
WHO TO WATCH
? Since being held scoreless against Charlotte, senior Darrius Morrow has scored double figures in five straight games, averaging 13.6 points per game and shooting 50 percent from the floor (23-of-46).
?Junior Maurice Kemp has posted a double-double in each of the last two games and scored double figures in five consecutive games. Since being inserted into the starting lineup against UNC Greensboro, Kemp has averaged 14.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game.
?Junior Shamarr Bowden has shot over 55 percent from behind the arc in each of the last three games, sinking five 3s in a pair of games and three in the other. Since being inserted into the starting lineup versus UNCG, he has raised his scoring average by nearly two points per game. He's scored double figures in six of the last seven games.
?Junior Miguel Paul scored a career-high 25 points against N.C. Central on Thursday, topping the 20-point plateau for the fourth time this season. Since going a combined 1-for-9 at the free throw line against Charlotte and UMass, Paul is 28-of-31 at the charity stripe the last three games.
SERIES HISTORY
? In the only previous meeting between the two schools, the Pirates opened the 2009-10 season with a 77-60 victory.
HAPPY NEW YEAR'S EVE
? East Carolina is playing on New Year's Eve for the first time since 2005 when it defeated UNC Wilmington, 82-69, at home. The Pirates have an all-time record of 2-3 on the final day of the calendar year.
UP NEXT
? East Carolina will open Conference USA play on Wednesday against Southern Miss. Tip-off is slated for 8 p.m. EST/7 p.m. CST in Hattiesburg. The Golden Eagles swept the season series from the Pirates a year ago.
