| Game Five: at Rutgers | |
| Date: | Friday, Nov. 24 |
| Time: | 1 p.m. (ET) |
| Location: | Piscataway, N.J. (Rutgers Athletic Center) |
| Live Game Coverage: | Radio: WNCT 107.9 FM | TuneIn Radio Online Video Stream: Big Ten Network Plus |
| Internet Options: | Live Stats |
| Game Notes: | ECU (PDF) | Rutgers | The American |
PISCATAWAY, N.J. --- After opening the season with four consecutive home games, ECU faces it first road test of the year Friday afternoon against Big Ten Conference member Rutgers, who has won each of its first five games to start the season.
The Pirates (2-2) snapped a two-game skid with a 72-69 come-from-behind win over Cleveland State Monday night. ECU trailed by seven with less than two minutes remaining and scored the game's final 10 points, six courtesy of junior Isaac Fleming.
Fleming leads The American with 6.5 assists per game and ranks both nationally.
Senior B.J. Tyson dropped 25 points on the Vikings, finishing one shy of his career high. He's scored double figures in each of the last three games, averaging 20.0 points per game during that stretch while shooting 9-of-17 outside the arc.
Rutgers (5-0) has won four of its first five games by 20 or more points and held three of its opponents to less than 40 points. The Scarlet Knights lead the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 47.2 points per game and are fourth among all Division I teams in field goal percent defense (.323), total rebounds (243) and total blocks (33). They are also sixth in rebounds per game (48.6) and rebounding margin (+16.6).
"They're big and athletic; they've got good guard play and they can rebound the ball," ECU Head Coach Jeff Lebo said. "I've been impressed with their ability to shoot the ball from the perimeter. They're ability to rebound the ball is going to be a big key for us."
Four players are averaging double figures for Rutgers led by freshman Geo Baker at 14.0 points per game. Junior Corey Sanders stands one point per game behind his rookie teammate with senior Mike Williams averaging 11.2 points per game off the bench.
Senior Deshawn Freeman, a native of Rocky Mount, N.C., owns a 10.2 points and 7.0 rebounds per game average.
Friday's game will be streamed live via the web on BTN Plus (btn2go.com). The game can also be heard across with Pirate IMG Sports Network throughout eastern North Carolina on WNCT 107.9 FM. Corey Gloor will handle the play-by-play duties as "Voice of the Pirates" Jeff Charles is in Memphis to call the ECU football game Saturday. The game can also be heard by using the TuneIn app.
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