Gameday: Pirates Look To End Skid Against Tulane

Game 20: vs. Tulane
Date:	Thursday, Jan. 31, 2019
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 Television: ESPNU
Internet Options:	Live Stats
Game Notes:	ECU \| Tulane \| The American

GREENVILLE, N.C. --- ECU will try to snap a five-game losing streak and earn its second American Athletic Conference win of the season when they host Tulane inside Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum on Thursday. The Pirates are coming off a 77-57 loss to USF Saturday.

ECU led by 13 in the first half, but the Bulls battled back to lead by two at halftime before using a 10-minute stretch of the second half to turn a three-point game into 18-point cushion.

"Until about the six-minute mark we were fine," ECU Head Coach Joe Dooley said. "We've got to be able to sustain the intensity and execution. It's almost like we start playing well then we do a 180. We've got to figure that out and continue to do what we've done."

Sophomore Shawn Williams made four 3-pointers against USF Saturday, marking the fifth time in 14 games he's made 3 or more triples.

"We want to win so badly," Williams said. "We've just got to stay together. We're a young team, but we can't breakdown. We've got to stick together."

A year ago in New Orleans, Williams buried 6-of-6 3-point attempts against the Green Wave en route to a 29-point performance. He also had 15 points in the first meeting between the teams in Greenville. Tulane bested ECU in overtime, 71-69, here a year ago to record their fourth victory in the last five games at Minges Coliseum.

This will be the teams' first of two meetings this season after splitting the season series a year ago with each team winning on the road.

Williams is one of three Pirates averaging double figures this season, scoring 11.9 points per game just ahead of forward Seth LeDay (11.5 ppg) and behind the conference's leading scorer Jayden Gardner (18.9 ppg).

Gardner is averaging a double-double in conference play with 18.9 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. He posted his eighth double-double Saturday with 15 points and 15 rebounds.

Tulane also has three players averaging double figures led by Caleb Daniels at 15.2 points per game followed by Samir Sehic (11.5 ppg) and Jordan Cornish (11.1 ppg). Sehic ranks third in The American with 7.9 rebounds per game.

"[Tulane] flip the floor on you a little bit," Dooley said. "They try and post their guards. They might change defenses. They've played primarily man, but we won't be surprised to see a lot of zone."

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Players Mentioned

Jayden Gardner

Seth LeDay

Shawn Williams

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