Pirates Look To Get On Track At JMU

Game 8: at James Madison
Date:	Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019
Time:	4 p.m. EST
Location:	Harrisonburg, Va. (Convocation Center)
Live Game Coverage:	Radio: WNCT 107.9 FM \| TuneIn Radio Online Stream: FloHoops.com
Internet Options:	Live Stats
Game Notes:	ECU (PDF) \| JMU (PDF) \| The American (PDF)

East Carolina and James Madison each look to get back into the win column Saturday afternoon inside the Convocation Center at JMU as the collide for the 48th time overall and only the fourth since 2001.

The Pirates (2-5) are coming off a 1-2 showing at the Islands of the Bahamas Showcase with an opening round win over Evansville followed by losses to Kansas City and Rice.

ECU averaged almost six more points per game (74.0) during its three games in the Bahamas compared to its overall season average (68.3). The Pirates have scored more than 80 points and held their opponent to under 70 in each of their two wins, but haven't topped the 70-point mark in any of their five losses while surrendering more than 70 three times.

Junior college transfer Tyrie Jackson made his ECU debut over the weekend, capped by a 22-point outburst against Rice, shooting 10 of 18 from the floor against the Owls. He averaged 10.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game over the weekend.

The most consistent player for the Pirates throughout the tournament was sophomore Jayden Gardner, who was named to the all-tournament team, averaging 19.7 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. He shot 60 percent (21 of 35) from the field and 73.9 percent (17 of 23) at the free throw line.

Gardner leads the American Athletic Conference in scoring, is third in rebounding and fifth in field goal percentage. He also ranks among the top five among NCAA Division I players in free throws made and attempted.

ECU freshmen Brandon Suggs (11.4 ppg) and Tristen Newton (10.0 ppg) average a combined 21.4 points per game

After posting back-to-back wins over Old Dominion and New Hampshire, JMU (4-3) was stunned by Coppin State Tuesday night, 94-78. JMU led by four at halftime, but went ice cold in the second half, shooting just 24 percent, while the Eagles shot nearly 53 percent following intermission.

JMU made 10 3s in the first half but were held to 0-of-15 outside the arc in the second.

The Dukes' top two scorers, Matt Lewis and Darius Banks were held to a combined 14 of 37 from the field, but converted 9 of 26 (.346) 3-point attempts.

"Those guys have put up big numbers, Dooley said. "They're an experienced backcourt and present a lot of problems because they can score in bunches, which they have."

Lewis leads the Dukes with 18.7 points per game, followed by Banks at 13.1

Banks had 18 and Lewis added 11 in the Dukes' buzzer-beating win over the Pirates in Greenville last season, thanks to Stucky Mosley's bank shot as time expired.

Seth LeDay, who didn't play against Rice Saturday due to a knee injury, led ECU with 21 points against the Dukes a year ago.

James Madison leads the all-time series with ECU, 34-13, and has won 19 of 22 against the Pirates i n Harrisonburg.

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Players Mentioned

Jayden Gardner

Tyrie Jackson

Seth LeDay

Tristen Newton

Brandon Suggs

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