NCCU at ECU Game Notes (PDF)
THE GAME
After a successful trip out to the great northwest of Eugene, Oregon, where NCCU left the 2011 Global Sports Hoops Showcase with a 2-1 record, the Eagles took plenty of momentum heading into the holiday break. The maroon and gray prepare to battle in-state foe East Carolina University for the fifth time since the 2006-07 season. This is the final contest of 2011 for head coach LeVelle Moton and his squad.
THE SERIES
NCCU and East Carolina have played four previous times with the one exception being an exhibition game that the Pirates won 68-47 on Nov. 26, 2006. The Eagles are officially 0-3 all-time against the Pirates of East Carolina University since moving to Division I. Last season, NCCU lost a close one to the Pirates in Durham, 58-50, on Jan. 3, 2011. The Eagles are 0-6 all-time against members of C-USA
NCCU SPORTS NETWORK
Eagle Gameday built by Dayeco Construction Co. begins at 6:45 p.m. (EST) on Thursday, Dec. 29 and can be heard only online at www.NCCUEaglePride.com. Play-by-play voice of the NCCU Sports Network, Chris Hooks, along with Kyle Serba, color analyst will bring all the live action from Minges Coliseum. Fans can also follow the game on Twitter by following @NCCUAthletics and @NCCUradio and by using the hashtag #NCCUECU to stay up-to-date on the contest between the Pirates and the Eagles.
EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY "PIRATES"
East Carolina University enters the fourth Division I meeting between these two programs winners of their last three contests heading into the holiday break, after losing three straight contests (Old Dominion (63-58), Charlotte (76-64), and Massachusetts (63-58)) to begin the month of December. The Pirates are headed by veteran head coach, Jeff Lebo, who has complied a 25-20 record in his second season at ECU, and is 236-176 in 13 seasons of coaching college basketball at places such as Tennessee Tech, Chattanooga, and Auburn. The Pirates have taken down the likes of Appalachian State in Charlotte (67-47), UNC Greensboro (71-62), and Coastal Carolina (76-51). ECU is led by guard Miguel Paul who has scored in double figures in every game this season. The point guard from Winter Haven, Fla. is seventh in C-USA in scoring (15.5 ppg) and No. 1 in assists (5.7 apg). His teammate, Darrius Morrow, is sitting 17th in the league in scoring 13.1 points per game and 12th in the league in rebounding at 6.3 board per contest. Morrow was named Preseason second team All-Conference USA and ranks seventh all-time in scoring at East Carolina. The 6-8 senior recorded a double-double (19 pts 10 rebs), along with his teammate Maurice Kemp (18 pts 13 rebs) in the 69-55 win over in-state foe Gardner-Webb on Dec. 22. In that victory, ECU outscored GWU 28-14 in the paint, and turned 16 Bulldog turnovers into 15 points. East Carolina surprised many around college basketball by competing in the Pirates first postseason appearance since 1993 after finishing last season 18-16, the second-most wins during the school’s Division I history.
UP NEXT
After celebrating the New Year, NCCU begins 2012 by diving back into conference action on Saturday, Jan. 7, against the Rattlers of Florida A&M University at 4:00 p.m at McDougald-McLendon Gym. The Eagles return home for the first time in nearly a month where the maroon and gray sport a 5-0 record including a 19-point conference-opening win over North Carolina A&T. The last time NCCU began a season 5-0 at home was the 2004-05 season, the first under former head coach Henry Dickerson, where he led the Eagles to a 7-0 start inside McDougald-McLendon Gym. During the 1997-98 season, NCCU sported a perfect 12-0 mark at home. From the 1995-96 season till the 97-98 campaign the Eagles were an astonishing 32-3 inside the "Eagles’ Nest".
