Hot Start Turns Cold In Road Loss To USF

Saturday, February 11

Tampa, Fla.

8 p.m.

East Carolina University

11-14 (3-9)

USF

7-17 (1-12)

Team	1	2	F
East Carolina	22	35	57
USF	33	31	64

Photo by: Rob Goldberg

February 11, 2017 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Game Report

RESULT
East Carolina got off to quick start, but cold shooting during the later stages of the first half and a USF surge turned a promising beginning into a double digit halftime deficit and a 64-57 loss Saturday night. The Pirates started out shooting 44.4 percent, but then missed their last 11 shots of the first half which resulted in a 20-point swing, going from up by nine to down 11 at intermission. The Bulls stretched their lead to 15 in the opening two minutes of the second half. ECU closed within four inside of five minutes to play, but was unable to overcome the 15-point deficit.

TURNING POINT
After ECU erased 11 points off a 15-point deficit with 4:20 to play, Geno Thorpe made four straight free throws and Ruben Guerrero scored a bucket in the paint to push the Bulls' lead back out to three possessions. USF ended the game on a 12-9 run, scoring their final six points at the free throw line. The Pirates made just 2-of-6 free throws in the final two minutes, while USF made 5-of-6 in 31 seconds to take a nine-point lead with 19 seconds to play.

ECU PLAYER-OF-THE-GAME
Jeremy Sheppard scored a team-high 17 points, making 5-of-9 shots from 3-point range. He finished 6-of-10 from the field overall.

USF PLAYER-OF-THE-GAME
Geno Thorpe had 22 points and eight assists to lead the Bulls to their first conference win of the season. He finished 6-of-13 from the floor, 3-of-6 outside the 3-point arc and 7-of-8 at the free throw line in 35 minutes of action.

GAME NOTES
ECU fell to 0-9 on the road this season … Sheppard knocked down five 3-pointers for the second consecutive game … Kentrell Barkley posted his third double-double (12 points, 12 rebounds) in the last four games and second straight … Caleb White scored 12 points and handed out a team-best four assists … Andre Washington had double-digit rebounds (10) for the sixth time this season … USF scored 15 points off nine East Carolina turnovers in the first half and finished with a 22-2 advantage in points off turnovers … In the first meeting of the season, USF committed 18 turnovers, tonight it only turned the ball over nine times.

QUOTE OF THE NIGHT
"Teams aren't going to give it to you, you have to take it. That's where we have to get." – ECU Acting Head Coach Michael Perry

NEXT GAME
The Pirates return home Wednesday, Feb. 15, to take on Temple inside Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum at 7 p.m.