Injury Riddled Pirates Head To Memphis
January 22, 2016 | Men's Basketball
GREENVILLE, N.C. --- Mired in a six-game losing streak, East Carolina will go after its first American Athletic Conference win of the season Sunday afternoon against Memphis at the FedExForum. The game will be televised on CBS Sports Network at 2 p.m. EST/1 p.m. CST.
In addition the Pirates will be seeking their first road victory of the season as well as their first win at over Memphis outside of Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum.
If the Pirates are to post a landmark win, they'll have to do so without their top two scorers - B.J. Tyson and Caleb White - who were both injured Tuesday night against Tulsa.
Tyson landed on his left shoulder after going up for a rebound and White took an elbow to the back of his head.
"[Tyson] has a small separation in his shoulder, so he'll be doubtful for the game," ECU Head Coach Jeff Lebo told reporters prior to practice Thursday. "Caleb got a concussion is out probably for the game."
To complicate matters further, junior Charles Foster also broke his nose in practice Monday and wore a protective mask Tuesday night against Tulsa, but didn't play. Senior Michael Zangari continues to receive treatment to a shoulder injury he sustained in the conference opener against UCF on Jan. 2.
"It looks like a M.A.S.H. unit in there right now," Lebo said. "It's unbelievable and unlike anything I've ever been through before."
Add Marshall Guilmette, who was medically disqualified before the season began, to the mix and ECU players have missed 34 games this season because of injury.
Left to pick up the pieces and lead the charge Sunday will be Zangari along with fellow seniors Prince Williams and Kanu Aja as well as juniors Clarence Williams and Michel Nzege with underclassmen Kentrell Barkley, Grant Bryant and Lance Tejada.
Without Tyson and White in uniform, the remaining group of Pirates has accounted for just 40.1 points per game during the current campaign.
Aja, Clarence Williams and Nzege have combined for 12.0 points and 9.5 rebounds per game this season with Prince Williams averaging 7.3 points and 3.8 assists per game at the point.
Barkley is the team's third leading score with 9.2 points per game and its top rebounder with 5.9 boards per contest. He is one of only two freshmen in The American to average more than nine points and 5.5 rebounds per game.
The other is Memphis' Dedric Lawson, who ranks fourth in the league in rebounding (8.8 rpg) and seventh in scoring (14.1 ppg).
Senior Shaq Goodwin is also ranks among the top-10 in scoring and rebounding with 13.8 ppg and 7.9 rpg, while leading the conference in blocked shots with 37.
As a team, the Tigers lead The American in field goal percent defense (.370), blocks per game (6.6) and defensive rebounds (29.4), while ranking second or third in six additional categories.
Memphis is 11-3 at home this season with its three loses coming to Oklahoma, Ole Miss and Texas-Arlington.
| Game 20: at Memphis | |
| Date | Sunday, Jan. 24 |
| Time | 1 p.m. CST |
| Location | Memphis, Tenn. (FedExForum) |
| Tickets | Buy Tickets |
| Live Game Coverage |  TV: CBS Sports Network \ Channel Finder Radio: WNCT 107.9 FM | ECU Pirates On Demand (Listen Live) TuneIn Radio Online (within the app search ECU or Pirate IMG Sports Network) |
| Live Stats | StatBroadcast |
| Game Notes | East Carolina  | Memphis |
| @ECUScoreboard | |
