East Carolina opens four-game homestand with Coastal Carolina

Pirates look to snap two-game losing streak at home

After ending a three-game losing streak with a 71-62 at UNCG on Friday, East Carolina (5-4) will attempt to stay above .500 when Coastal Carolina comes to Williams Arena-Minges Coliseum on Monday night.

The Pirates are led by Miguel Paul, who averages 16.2 points per contest. Paul also leads the team in steals (2.4), assists (5.4), and three-pointers made (22). After shooting poorly the last three games, he went 7-of-11 against UNCG and helped ECU eclipse the 40-percent plateau from the floor for the first time in four games. The Pirates, who are shooting just 41.8 for the season, finished at 42.9 percent (24-of-56) versus the Spartans.

Darrius Morrow, who managed a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds on Friday, also averages in double figures for the Pirates. Morrow, who has improved his rebounding effort of late, produces 12.6 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. He also tops the club in blocked shots, as he swats nearly 1.5 per contest. The veteran power forward is one of five ECU players averaging over five rebounds.

Robert Sampson, who leads the team with 6.5 rebounds, did not play against the Spartans after injuring his ankle during a lay-up in pregame. The 6'8" sophomore has also been battling a thumb injury.

Coastal Carolina (9-1), which beat East Carolina, 59-58, on a jumper by Kierre Greenwood with two seconds left last season, will bring a four-game win streak to town. The Chanticleers trail the all-time series, 4-3, but they have won the last two meetings between the programs. They are 0-3 all-time in Greenville.

Cliff Ellis' club started the season at 5-0 with wins over LSU and Clemson before suffering its lone defeat in a 64-62 decision at Florida International.

The Chants are third in the nation in field goal percentage (53.3) and average just over 81 points per game, but shoot just 33.1 from long range.

Four CCU players produce in double figures. The quartet is led by junior guard Anthony Raffa. Raffa, who also leads the team with 2.6 steals, averages 19.6 points per game. He has knocked down a team-high 13 three-pointers while shooting 38.2 percent from beyond the arc. Greenwood, a 6'2" guard, scores 10 points and dishes out 3.4 assists per game. Chris Gradnigo, a 6'7", 223-pound senior, and Sam McLaurin (6'8", 230) lead the Chants in the post. Gradnigo produces 16.4 points and 6.3 boards. McLaurin averages 10.1 points while topping the team in rebounds with 8.1.

Both teams limit their opponents to just over 60 points and less than 40 percent shooting.

Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.