East Carolina to open Lebo era with exhibition contest against Montreat

Tip-off is scheduled for 7pm

While the games won't start counting until next Friday, Pirate fans will be able to get an initial look at new head coach Jeff Lebo's first team on Friday night when East Carolina welcomes NAIA foe Montreat College to Williams Arena-Minges Coliseum.

The Pirates, who went 10-21 last season under former coach Mack McCarthy, return their starting five. The team's leader, senior point guard Brock Young, underwent offseason knee surgery and will play very limited minutes in tonight's contest. Young, who is already the program's career assist leader, will play a maximum of six minutes per half according to Lebo. He averaged 15.5 points and 5.5 assists a season ago.

Junior power forward Darrius Morrow is the team's top post threat. Morrow, who was second on the team in scoring with 12.6 points per game, was the top rebounder with 6.5 boards.

Senior swingman Jamar Abrams is the team's top perimeter threat and also averaged in double figures (11.1 ppg) last season despite struggling with consistency issues.

Three players will make their unofficial debut in the purple and gold. Darius Morales, who redshirted a season ago, will need to prove that he can contribute quality minutes in the post with the recent injury to DaQuan Joyner. True freshmen Robert Sampson and Petar Torlak are also likely to see their first action as Pirates.

The Cavaliers, who were a dismal 4-27 last season, are guided by first-year coach Lincoln Walters. They come in with an 0-2 mark after losing handily to Emmanuel (61-77) and Martin Methodist (72-97). Giles Mack leads Montreat with 12.5 points per game.