East Carolina University
Memphis
Gameday Preview: East Carolina at Memphis
January 27, 2017 | Men's Basketball
| Game 22: East Carolina at Memphis | |
| Date | Saturday, Jan. 28 |
| Time | 3:30 p.m. ET / 2:30 p.m. CT |
| Location | Memphis, Tenn. (FedExForum) |
| Web Coverage | Live Stats \\\ Listen Live \\\ WatchESPN |
| Game Notes | East Carolina \\\ Memphis |
| Social Media | Twitter: @ECUScoreboard \\\ @ECUPirateHoops |
East Carolina looks to score its first true road victory of the season when the Pirates visit Memphis Saturday at the FedExForum. The game can be seen on ESPNEWS and the WatchESPN app, and can be heard throughout eastern North Carolina on WNCT 107.9-FM and across the Pirate-IMG Sports Network.
The Pirates snapped a six-game losing streak Wednesday night with a 69-66 win over Tulsa. Kentrell Barkley led the Pirates with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Elijah Hughes added 12 points, while Andre Washington (12) and Deng Riak (11) each grabbed double-digit rebounds.
Memphis had its three-game winning streak snapped by Temple Wednesday night, 77-66. Jeremiah Martin had a team-high 16 points in the loss, while Markel Crawford had 15 and Dedric Lawson 13.
The Tigers are the top scoring team in The American, averaging 77.4 points per game, while ECU is 11th scoring just 62.3 points per contest.
However, the Pirates rank among the top-20 in the country in scoring defense (19th) and field goal percent defense (7th), limiting its opponents to 62.8 points per game and 38.1 percent shooting.
The Memphis brother combination of Dedric and K.J. Lawson combine to average 18.5 rebounds per game, second-highest rebounding tandem in the country. Dedric ranks second in the league in rebounding with 10.0 boards per game and second in scoring at 19.5 ppg. Crawford and the younger Lawson are also averaging double figures.
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Since joining become members of The American, ECU and Memphis have split the four games played. Each team won on the road last season after each won at home in 2014-15.
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 NEWS & NOTES
- Coaches from both teams will wear sneakers with their game attire as a visible reminder about the importance of nutrition and physical activity in reducing cancer risk as part of Coaches vs. Cancer Suits And Sneakers Week, which is a nationwide event that unites coaches across the country to raise awareness about the American Cancer Society's lifesaving mission, and promote the American Cancer Society as a place for help and support.
- Saturday's game will be Pirates' assistant coach Michael Perry's third game as acting head coach during ECU Head Coach Jeff Lebo's leave of absence following hip surgery on Jan. 16. There is no timetable for Lebo's return. Perry is in his 10th season as an assistant coach at East Carolina. He joined the Pirate coaching staff following 4+ years as head coach at Georgia State, where he compiled a 62-75 record.
- The Pirates' leading scorer, junior B.J. Tyson will miss his fourth straight game after sustaining a leg injury against Houston on January 11. Tyson was averaging a team-best 11.9 points per game and led ECU in total assists (53) and steals (53) at the time of his injury.
- Barkley has led ECU in scoring in seven of the last nine games and has been its leading rebounder in seven of the last 10. He ranks second on the team in points and rebounds per game as well as total assists (57). Barkley is averaging 13.9 ppg and 8.1 rebounds the last seven games.Barkley ranks third in conference only games with 8.1 rpg and 17th in scoring with 12.6 ppg.
- Hughes has averaged 14.7 ppg in his first three games as a starter. He had 18 against Cincinnati, 14 at UCONN and 12 versus Tulsa. Hughes is also averaging 28.4 minutes per game as a starter and is one of two players on the team to average double digit points in league play (11.1).
- Washington is averaging a league-best 3.6 blocks per game in conference play, swatting 29 opponent field goal attempts in eight games. He blocked 30 shots in 13 non-conference games. He ranks second overall in The American with 2.8 blocks per game, which is 11th among all Division I players. His 59 total blocks is first among all American Athletic Conference players and eighth nationally. He needs one block to become the fifth-player in school history with 60 blocks in a season.
