Gameday: Pirates Set To Entertain N.C. A&T

Game 2: East Carolina vs. Grambling State
Date	Monday, November 14
Time	7 p.m. (ET)
Location	Greenville, N.C. (Williams Arena in Minges Coliseum)
Coverage	Live Stats \\\ Watch Live \\\ Listen Live
Game Notes	East Carolina \\\ North Carolina A&T
Social Media	Twitter: @ECUScoreboard \\\ @ECUPirateHoops

The East Carolina Pirates have something to build on.

After posting a 72-57 win over Grambling State Friday night, the Pirates will look to make it 2-0 to start the season as they host North Carolina A&T Monday night at 7 p.m. inside Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum.

ECU (1-0) put together a 20-7 run in the first half en route to a 10-point halftime lead. The lead eventually ballooned to 19 points as the Pirates shot 51.1 percent from the field, while holding the Tigers to 35.0 percent. In the process, head coach Jeff Lebo collected his 100^th victory at the school, becoming just the third coach in program history to reach the century mark.

"I was real impressed with my team defensively tonight," Lebo said. "I thought they did a wonderful job man-to-man. ... We're much bigger, much more physical."
The Pirates' returning trio of double figures scorers all netted double digits, led by senior Caleb White's 21 points. Sophomore Kentrell Barkley added 14 and junior B.J. Tyson, who made his first career start at point guard, had 12 to go along with a career-high eight assists.

"I was really happy, he defended well and he was solid. He made good decisions with the ball," Lebo said of Tyson. "It's a big move for him. It's like going from running back to quarterback. We moved Kentrell to play there, Caleb too some. They all did a good job.

"We're going to rely on those three guys, and they were good tonight."

Seven-foot-one graduate transfer Andre Washington and 6-foot-10 junior college newcomer Jabari Craig combined for 14 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks. The infusion of height resulted in a blocked shot total that ECU surpassed just once last season.

North Carolina A&T opened its season with a victory as well on Friday, defeating Division III Greensboro College 67-50.

Four players scored double figures for the Aggies, led by junior college transfer Davaris McGowens' 18 points. He was 6-of-7 from the floor and 6-of-9 at the free throw line.
Redshirt junior James Whitaker posted his first double-double of the season with 12 points and 15 rebounds, while Eliel Gonzalez had 13 points with four assists and Sam Hunt added 11 points with four steals.

The Aggies finished the game shooting 43.3 percent after shooting 57.1 percent in the second half to turn a four-point halftime lead into a double-digit victory.

"Any time you go into a game opener it's really hit or miss in terms of seeing how long it takes a team to calm down because everyone was excited in the locker room before the game," said N.C. A&T head coach Jay Joyner. "Greensboro College is well coached. They came in here trying to beat us, and they gave us a game for the majority of the time."

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Players Mentioned

Kentrell Barkley

Jabari Craig

B.J. Tyson

Andre Washington

Caleb White

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