Pirates Look To Extend Home Streak Against SMU

Game 16: vs. SMU Mustangs
Date:	Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020
Time:	2 p.m. EST
Location:	Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum (Greenville, N.C.)
Live Game Coverage:	TV: ESPNU Stream: WatchESPN.com Radio: WNCT 107.9 FM \| TuneIn Radio Online
Internet Options:	Live Stats
Game Notes:	ECU (PDF) \| SMU (PDF) \| The American (PDF)

GREENVILLE, N.C. – East Carolina continues its three-game homestand on Saturday, welcoming American Athletic Conference rival SMU to Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum for an afternoon affair (2 p.m.)

Winners of five straight home games, the Pirates (7-8, 1-1) are coming off a 62-59 win over South Florida on Tuesday. Jayden Gardner had 23 points, 10 rebounds and a key blocked shot near the end of regulation to preserve the victory.

Bitumba Baruti put ECU up 60-57 with a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 1:26 remaining and Tristen Newton made both ends of a one-and-one with 15 seconds to go before Gardner blocked a potential tying 3-pointer with 6 seconds left.

"That was huge," said Gardner of Baruti's game-winning shot. "He's getting more confident in practice, you can just see it, and he is making a lot of shots and driving and guarding. If he gets going, this team can go a long way in my opinion."

The Pirates have lost just once since the conclusion of final exams and that was New Year's Day at No. 23 Wichita State by a mere six points.

"We've been able to go twice a day, watch film, do extra shooting and do extra skill work," ECU Head Coach Joe Dooley said. "It's really helped our guys especially on the defensive end."

Over the last six games, East Carolina has held its opponent to 64.7 points per game and 36.9 percent from the field after allowing more than 75 points and 45 percent shooting in the first nine games.

Gardner is seventh consecutive 20-point game and straight double-double. He is the only Pirate to average double figures (21.4 ppg) this season, but five additional players are averaging more than eight points per game.

SMU enters Saturday's game riding a four-game winning streak with an overall record of 12-2 which includes a 2-0 mark in The American with wins over South Florida and UCF. The Mustangs opened the season by winning their first eight games before suffering back-to-back losses to Georgetown and Georgia.

SMU is ranked second among American Athletic Conference teams with an average of 78.4 points per game. The Mustangs have averaged 85 per game over their four-game winning streak.

Juniors Isiaha Mike (15.6 ppg) and Tyson Jolly (15.0 ppg) rank third and fifth in the league in scoring with sophomore Feron Hunt (13.9 ppg) ranking 13^th. TCU transfer Kedric Davis leads the Mustangs with 16.6 points per game, but has only played in 10 games therefore he hasn't qualified to be ranked among the league leaders yet.

Mike has connected on 44.3 percent of the 70 3-pointers he's attempted and has made 13 of 33 over the last five games. He's also made 89.7 percent of his foul shots this season.

As a team SMU leads The American in field goal percentage (.475), free throw percentage (.786) and assists per game (17.1), ranking second in 3-point field goal percentage (.373).

The Pirates will look to end a 10-game losing streak to SMU and earn their first win over the Mustangs since Feb. 23, 2013.

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Players Mentioned

Bitumba Baruti

Jayden Gardner

Tristen Newton

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