Gameday: New Era Of Pirate Basketball Begins Against Delaware State

Game 1: vs. Delaware State
Date:	Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018
Time:	7:45 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: PIRATE ALL-ACCESS
Internet Options:	Live Stats
Game Notes:	ECU \| Delaware State \| The American

GREENVILLE, N.C. --- ECU will open its 87th season of intercollegiate basketball on Tuesday night as the Pirates' host Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference foe Delaware State inside Williams Arena st Minges Coliseum. The game will tip-off at approximately 7:45 p.m. following the conclusion of the first game between the ECU women's basketball team and Maryland Eastern Shore, which is set for 5:30 p.m.

Coach Joe Dooley resumes his Pirate coaching career following a 19-year hiatus. He served as ECU's head coach from 1995-99, compiling a 57-52 record and departing as the owner of the highest winning percentage (.523) among all Pirate coaches as a Division I institution (since 1965-66).

Tuesday night's opener is the first of three straight for the Pirates at home, all of which will be played in the initial six days of the season. ECU host James Madison Friday, Nov. 9, at 7:45 p.m. and welcomes Lamar to Greenville Sunday at 4 p.m.

NOTES ON SEASON OPENERS: The Nov. 6 date marks the earliest season opener in school history, two days ahead of the previous record of Nov. 8, 2013 against N.C. Wesleyan (W, 97-51) ... The Pirates are 60-26 (.697) all-time in season-openers dating back to the first season in 1932 with an opening night record of 48-4 inside Minges Coliseum ... ECU has won 19 consecutive lid-lifters and 17 straight home openers ... ECU, which has won 28 of its last 29 home openers, earned an 76-50 win over Coppin State in last season's opener on Nov. 12 ... Coupled with his record at Florida Gulf Coast, head coach Joe Dooley is 4-5 in season openers and 9-0 in home openers. Dooley was 2-2 in season openers during his previous stint with the Pirates, but posted a 4-0 mark in home openers inside Williams Arena.

ECU-DELAWARE STATE CONNECTIONS: Saleik Edwards is a native of Winterville, N.C. and graduated from South Central High School ... ECU Assistant Head Coach Steve Roccaforte and Delaware State Head Coach Eric Skeeters were a part of Stan Heath's coaching staff at South Florida during the 2011-12 and 2012-13 campaigns.

SERIES HISTORY: ECU and Delaware State are meeting for the fourth time in the series. The Pirates lead the overall series, 2-1. The Pirates posted a 63-57 victory in Greenville last season in the first meeting between the east coast institutions since 1981. Every game in the series has been played in Minges Coliseum.

LAST MEETING BETWEEN THE PIRATES AND HORNETS: ECU outscored Delaware State 15-9 over the final 5:28 to grind out a tough win over Delaware State, 63-57, inside Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum last season (12/2/17) ... Kentrell Barkley's steal and subsequent dunk gave ECU a two possession lead with two minutes remaining. That was part of a 7-0 run which gave the Pirates a 60-52 lead with 1:35 to play. The Hornets pulled within three with 1:06 remaining but came up empty on their game-tying possession and Shawn Williams sealed it with two free throws with 17 seconds left ... Isaac Fleming scored 17 points, grabbed six rebounds and dished out four assists and collected two steals. Fleming was 7-of-13 from the field and 3-of-3 at the free throw line ... Shawn Williams added 12 points off the bench for ECU,going 4-of-8 from the field and 2-of-4 outside the arc, , while Justin Whatley came off the bench score eight points and grab six rebounds.

Gameday: New Era Of Pirate Basketball Begins Against Delaware State

Players Mentioned

Kentrell Barkley

Isaac Fleming

Justin Whatley

Shawn Williams

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