ECU Returns Home To Face USF

Game 10: East Carolina vs. USF
Date \| Time	Jan. 9, 2021 \| 1 p.m. ET
Location	Greenville, N.C. (Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum)
Game Program	Hoops Digest #3
Live Game Coverage	Stream: ESPN+ Radio: WNCT 107.9 FM \| TuneIn Radio Online
Live Stats	Sidearm Stats
Statistics	ECU \| USF
Game Notes	ECU \| USF
Social Media	Facebook \| Twitter \| Instagram \| YouTube \| #OnePirateNation

Coming off a disappointing 60-56 loss in New Orleans to Tulane a week ago, East Carolina returns to the hardwood Saturday to take on USF inside Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum.

It'll be the first of two meetings in a span of 11 days between the Pirates and Bulls. ECU is slated to make the return trip to Tampa on Jan. 20.

ECU Head Coach Joe Dooley is hoping his team can put its most sluggish effort of the season behind it in a hurry. The Pirates committed a season-high 21 turnovers and shot a season-low 37 percent from the field. ECU saw the Green Wave score 21 points off its miscues and march to the free throw line 23 times and hit 20 foul shots.

"I saw some things (against Tulane) that we hadn't seen all year," Dooley said. "I do think it was some of our offensive rhythm. When you really look at it, our guys that touched the ball the most didn't turn it over. That being our point guards played for 38 minutes and combined for two turnovers."

The Bulls are coming off a 61-51 loss at home to Tulsa on Wednesday. USF shot just 33 percent from the floor and made a mere 3 of 22 3-point attempts.

The Bulls' top four scorers: David Collins, Justin Brown, Caleb Murphy and Alexis Yetna were held to a total of 16 points as Collins and Brown were held scoreless, while Yetna was limited to two made field goals.

Collins (11.9 ppg), Murphy (10.8 ppg) and Yetna (10.6 ppg) are all averaging double figures. Michael Durr, who ranks fourth in The American in rebounding, has averaged 11.2 boards per game over the last five contests.

"My guess is after a rough day on Wednesday, [Alexis] Yetna and [Justin] Brown and those guys will be amped up and ready to play on Saturday afternoon."

The Pirates' Jayden Gardner is likely to be amped up to play as well after Tulane only allowed him to get five shots last Saturday. His lone field goal of the game was a 3-pointer in the final seconds.

"He just didn't have one of his games," Dooley said. "We didn't get him the ball some. They did a good job of taking him out."

Gardner leads East Carolina with 17.0 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. Senior J.J. Miles (10.7 ppg) and sophomore Brandon Suggs (10.3 ppg) are also averaging double digits points.

Suggs has scored double figures in three straight games, averaging 15.3 ppg during that stretch. Miles has netted double digits in four of the last five games he's played, posting 13.8 ppg.

ECU and USF split the season series a year ago with each team winning on its home court. The Bulls own an 11-9 edge in the series dating back to 2003.

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Players Mentioned

Jayden Gardner

J.J. Miles

Brandon Suggs

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