East Carolina meets NAIA foe Milligan in season opener

Pirates to play the first of 17 home games on Friday at 7pm

Following a successful first season under Jeff Lebo, the East Carolina men’s basketball program will seek to continue its winning ways during the 2011-12 campaign.

The Pirates will set sail on their new season tonight when NAIA foe Milligan (TN) visits Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum for a 7 p.m. tip-off.

East Carolina did lose over half of its scoring from last year’s 18-16 team, but its roster will feature three returning starters—including veteran power forward Darrius Morrow—as well as several newcomers.

Morrow, a 6’8”, 245-pound senior, was second on the team in scoring a season ago when he averaged 13 points. He led the Pirates in rebounding (6.3 per contest) and blocked shots (28).

Juniors Corvonn Gaines and Erin Straughn also started all but one of the team’s 34 games last season. Gaines was second on the team in assists with over three per game while Straughn was second in rebounding with 4.4 boards per contest.

Milligan, an NAIA program from Eastern Tennessee, will bring a mark of 2-2 into the match-up. The Buffaloes, who have a first-year coach in Bill Robinson, opened the season with a 106-63 win over Knoxville College before traveling to Florida where it dropped games with Warner University (L, 98-77) and Embry Riddle (L, 95-72) programs ranked in the top 20 of NAIA Division II. Robinson’s club evened its record on Tuesday when it captured an 87-65 victory at Knoxville College.

Sophomore point guard Kyle Grisby leads the Buffaloes. The 5’7” Charlotte-native is averaging 14.8 points per contest and is one of three Milligan players producing in double figures.

Prediction:

Everyone on the Pirates’ roster should get plenty of playing time in this one. Milligan only has two post players taller than 6’5” so expect East Carolina to feed veteran Darrius Morrow and for the senior power forward to dominate in the paint.

Lebo will have the opportunity to experiment with various combinations in what will be an easy win prior to the Pirates traveling to Campbell for its first road contest and Division I competition of the season on Monday night.

East Carolina 97 Milligan 59