East Carolina to host Division II Chowan

Pirates and Hawks will tip at 1 p.m. on Saturday

After collecting a 20-point win over Appalachian State on Tuesday night, East Carolina will look to extend its winning streak to three on Saturday afternoon when Division II Chowan College visits Williams Arena-Minges Coliseum for a 1 p.m. contest.

The Pirates (3-1), who are 2-0 at home, will be playing the third of four games against non-Division I competition.

ECU is led in scoring by junior point guard Miguel Paul. Paul, who is 9-of-18 from three-point range, averages 16.8 points per game. He also tops the team in assists (6.0). The Missouri transfer’s assist-to-turnover ratio is an impressive four to one. Paul has shot twice as many free throws (32) as anyone on the team and has converted just over 81 percent of those.

Senior Darrius Morrow, who averages 14 points, also scores in double figures for the Pirates. Versatile sophomore Rob Sampson, who is 5-of-8 from beyond the arc, produces 9.0 points and 7.8 rebounds.

As a team, the Pirates are shooting 45.8 percent from the floor and 37 percent from three. They hit 7-of-12 from deep against Appalachian after going a combined 10-of-47 in games two and three.

Defensively, Jeff Lebo’s club has limited three of its four opponents to 50 points or less. Opponents are shooting just 36.5 percent.

Chowan (2-3), a member of the CIAA of NCAA Division II, will also bring a two-game win streak into the game. The Hawks, who are led by second year coach Dan DeRose, defeated Coker—who the Pirates beat 63-50—by an 80-64 final on Friday. They secured the title of the Zaxby’s Tip-off Classic by collecting a 92-61 blowout of host Francis Marion on Saturday.

Sophomore Antonio Reddic, who averages 24.4 points, leads the Hawks. Reddic has scored at least 23 points in every game and is coming off a double-double against Francis Marion in which he scored 24 points while also dishing out ten assists. The 6’4” wing also produces 5.6 rebounds per contest.

Quinton McDuffie, a 6’5” post player, averages 14.8 points and six boards. Senior wing Mark McGlone pulls down a team-high 6.5 boards. James Davis has made a club-high eight three’s in 17 attempts.

Final Analysis and Prediction

East Carolina is not only expected to win this game, but to do so convincingly. However, the Pirates struggled to put away a stubborn Coker team in a 63-50 victory last Thursday and Chowan defeated them by 16 the following night. That alone should have the attention of Lebo’s club if there is any inclination to overlook the Hawks.

Expect ECU to commit to capitalizing on its size advantage and ride its horse Darrius Morrow. Chowan doesn’t shoot the ball particularly well from the perimeter, as they are just 31 percent as a team from three. Reddic is just 4-of-19 from three-point range to date. Thus, the Pirates need to force them to settle for the long-distance jumpers.

Most, if not, everyone on the roster should get playing time in a game that should serve as a final tune-up before East Carolina embarks on a stretch that will feature a road game at Old Dominion and home games against Atlantic 10 foes Charlotte and UMASS.

East Carolina 88 Chowan 58