East Carolina University
1-0
Grambling St.
0-1
East Carolina Holds Off Grambling State 61-53
November 13, 2015 | Men's Basketball
From wire and staff reports
GREENVILLE, N.C --- Junior Caleb White scored 21 points and freshman Kentrell Barkley nearly posted a double-double in his collegiate debut to lead East Carolina past Grambling State, 61-53, in the season opener for both teams Friday night.
Barkley finished the game with eight points and 11 rebounds in 27 minutes of action. Only White and 2015 American Athletic Conference All-Freshman Team selection B.J. Tyson played more.
The Pirates extended their season-opening winning streak to 15 games and their home-opening march to 13 games, giving ECU Head Coach Jeff Lebo his 299th career victory.
Michael Bethea led the Tigers with 18 points on 6 of 11 shooting outside the arc. Nigel Reiberio added 14 points and Remond Brown had 12.
Despite struggling to score from the floor, ECU was able to get to the free throw line and convert 29 of 42 attempts; that's more than twice as many made field goals (14) and just three fewer shots than from the floor (45).
Tyson was a perfect 6 of 6 at the charity stripe, while Grambling was just 3 of 8 as team.
ECU led 24-16 with 4:36 remaining until halftime and went into the locker room with a 28-22 lead.
Bethea gave Grambling a 41-40 lead with 9:18 to play before ECU scored 10 unanswered in a span of 3:44 to go up by nine, 50-41. Lance Teajda pushed the lead to 11 with 3:24 remaining.
Riberio hit a 3-pointer for the Tigers to cut East Carolina's lead to 54-49 with 2:29 left to play. But White's 3 about a minute later helped seal it.
White was 6 for 12 from the field and grabbed five rebounds for the Pirates, who controlled the glass with a 44-32 edge - 13 coming on the offensive end.
The Tigers pulled within six with 14 seconds remaining before Tyson salted away the game with a pair of free throws.
East Carolina returns to action Monday, Nov. 16, at home against Charlotte.
