East Carolina University
College of Charleston
Gameday: ECU vs. College of Charleston Preview
December 14, 2016 | Men's Basketball
| Game 11: East Carolina vs. College of Charleston | |
| Date | Thursday, December 15 |
| Time | 7 p.m. (ET) |
| Location | Greenville, N.C. (Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum) |
| Television | American Sports Network | Find Your Station |
| Web Coverage | Live Stats \\\ Listen Live \\\ ESPN3 |
| Game Notes | East Carolina \\\ College of Charleston |
| Social Media | Twitter: @ECUScoreboard \\\ @ECUPirateHoops |
East Carolina will open the post-exam portion of its schedule Thursday night against College of Charleston at 7 p.m. inside Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum. The game will be carried on the American Sports Network and televised locally on MyWITN 7.2. It will also be streamed on ESPN3.
The Pirates are looking to remain unbeaten at home this season and post their 19th consecutive non-conference home win. ECU hasn't allowed an opponent to shoot 40 percent on its home court this season and has an average margin of victory of 16.8 in those games.
ECU and College of Charleston each rank among the top-20 in the nation in scoring defense at No. 16 and 18, respectively. The Pirates are limiting opponents to 60.9 ppg, while the Cougars are yielding a similar 61.0 ppg.
"I know [College of Charleston] is very good, they've played a tough schedule and they can really defend; one of the top defensive teams in the country," ECU Head Coach Jeff Lebo said. "They've got experienced tough guards that can defend in all areas."
Thursday will be the Pirates' first game since losing at Virginia nine days ago, while the Cougars are coming off a 59-45 win over Anderson University on Sunday.
"Practices have been competitive, but we haven't played for a long time," Lebo stated. "Sometimes its a little rusty to get started when you haven't played for eight or nine days."
Tickets for Thursday's game are $15 with all lower level seating available to the general public. Tickets can be purchased on-line or by calling the ECU Athletics Ticket Office at (800) DIAL-ECU.
NEWS & NOTES
- ECU is shooting to snap a two-game slide against the Cougars that spans a period of 24 years. The series resumed last season with the Cougars posting a 77-73 win in Charleston. CofC leads the all-time series 2-1 and is making its first visit to Greenville since 1990.
- College of Charleston is the first of two consecutive CAA opponents for the Pirates. The next game on the schedule is Tuesday, Dec. 20, at preseason CAA favorite UNC Wilmington.
- At 7-3, the Pirates are off to their best start since the 2013-14 campaign when they opened the season with an 8-2 record. A victory would give ECU eight wins in its first 11 games for the third time in seven seasons under coach Jeff Lebo.
- East Carolina has yet to allow an opponent to shoot 40 percent or better from the field at home this season and his connect on a higher percentage of its field goal attempts than its opponent in each of its six home games.
- In six of its seven wins this season, East Carolina has held the lead for a minimum of 35 minutes, leading wire-to-wire in three of those games.
- A different player has led the Pirates in scoring in each of the last three games: Tyson (17) vs. Hampton, Caleb White (20) vs. NC Central and Sheppard (17) at Virginia. Six players have led ECU in scoring at least once this season.
- White is averaging three made 3-pointers per game this season and has made 211 during his career. His next made 3-pointer would give him one more than coach Jeff Lebo made during his four years at North Carolina.
- Senior Michel Nzege saw his most extensive action of the season at Virginia after missing the first seven games due to injury. Nzege scored six points in 20 minutes of action and made his first career 3-pointer.
- Tyson is 14 points shy of moving into 25th-place on the school's all-time scoring list. He currently ranks 26th with 1,017 points, which is three points shy of sole possession of sixth-place on The American career scoring list.
- Sheppard is the only player to score double figures each of the last two games, netting 13 against NC Central and 17 at Virginia. In the last two games, he's averaged 15.0 points, five assists and four rebounds, while shooting 9-of-16 (.563) from the field and 7-of-11 (.636) outside the arc.
PROGRAM CONNECTIONS
- East Carolina head coach Jeff Lebo spent two seasons under the tutelage of former College of Charleston Head Coach Alan Force at East Tennessee State from 1990-92.
- ECU Director of Basketball Operations Kyle Robinson served in the same capacity at CofC (2007-10) for coach Bobby Cremmins.
- ECU Assistant Director of Athletic Operations Kellen Altman is a 2006 graduate of College of Charleston.
- ECU assistant coach Ken Potosnak is a former resident of Charleston, spending five years as an assistant coach at The Citadel (1992-97).
