East Carolina University
UTRGV
Gameday: Pirates Return Home To Take On UTRGV
November 18, 2018 | Men's Basketball
| Game 5: vs. Texas Rio Grande Valley | |
| Date: | Monday, Nov. 19, 2018 |
| Time: | 7 p.m. (ET) |
| Location: | Greenville, N.C. (Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum) |
| Tickets & Parking: | Game Tickets | Parking Information |
| Live Game Coverage: | Radio: WNCT 107.9 FM | TuneIn Radio Online Video Stream: ECU All-Access |
| Internet Options: | Live Stats |
| Game Notes: | ECU | UTGRV | The American |
ECU opens a three-game homestand Monday night welcoming Texas Rio Grande Valley of the Western Athletic Conference to Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum for a 7 p.m. tip-off. The Pirates will continue their homestand this week with games Wednesday (vs. Prairie View A&M) and Saturday (vs. High Point).
Monday's game is part of the Deep South Showcase which also features Georgia Tech, Lamar and Prairie View A&M. The round robin event is played exclusively on campus sites. The Pirates are 1-1 in the event, defeating Lamar and losing at Georgia Tech. The Vipers defeated Lamar in their lone game of the event to this point.
ECU is coming off a 79-54 loss at Georgia Tech Friday night, in which is shot 35.6 percent from the field and made just 2 of 17 3-point attempts. Freshman Jayden Gardner led the Pirates in scoring for the second consecutive game with 13 points while fellow rookie DeShaun Wade scored double figures for the first time and finished with 12 points. Junior Seth LeDay made the first start of ECU career, but was held under double figures for the first time this year and finished with nine points.
UTGRV is led by former Pirate assistant coach Lew Hill, who spent four seasons (1994-98) on the ECU sidelines. Hill joined the coaching staff under Eddie Payne for the 1994-95 season and then remained for three years alongside Dooley (1995-98).
Hill's team is off toa 3-1 start with their only loss coming to Oklahoma. The Vipers are coming off a 70-57 victory over Prairie View A&M this past Wednesday. Junior Lesley Varner III led UTRGV with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Monday night's meeting will be the first between ECU and UTRGV since 1981 when Texas Rio Grande Valley was known an Texas Pan American. The Vipers swept a home-and-home series from the Pirates during the 1980-81 campaign in the only previous series meetings.
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