Pirates pound UVA-Wise, 91-56, to close non-conference play

Maurice Kemp records third straight double double

East Carolina shot a season-high 58.5 percent as it closed out non-conference play with an easy 91-56 victory over outmatched NAIA foe UVA-Wise at Williams Arena-Minges Coliseum on Saturday afternoon.

The Pirates (9-4), who have won five straight, built a double-digit lead in the first six-plus minutes of the game and never looked back.

Paris Roberts-Campbell, who scored a career-high 17 points, knocked down a three that completed a 10-2 run that gave ECU an 18-8 advantage.

UVA-Wise (3-7) produced a 6-0 flurry that sliced its deficit to four at 18-14, but the Pirates countered with one of their own that essentially decided the issue.

East Carolina received eight points from Maurice Kemp during a 14-0 run that increased its lead to 32-14 with 5:42 remaining in the first half.

After leading 45-21 at the break, the Pirates quickly extended their advantage to 67-33 with just under 13 minutes to play as Roberts-Campbell scored 11 points in less than three minutes.

Kemp, who finished with 25 points and 14 rebounds, posted his third straight double-double and fifth of his young Pirate career. The lanky 6'8" junior went 10-of-12 from the floor in the game.

Darrius Morrow tallied 15 points to give ECU a third player in double figures. The veteran also pulled down eight rebounds in the contest.

Outmanned UVA-Wise was dominated on the interior, as the deeper and bigger Pirates outscored the Cavs, 56-22, in the paint. They also held a commanding, 55-27, advantage on the glass.

Darius Smith scored 17 to lead UVA-Wise.

Erin Straughn and the Pirate defense limited Cavs' star Travis Berry to 13 points and a dismal 4-of-20 shooting effort.

Josh Jordan finished with 11 points to give the Cavs a third player in double figures. He had a team-high eight rebounds.

Check back with cusa-fans.com for a preview of Wednesday's CUSA opener as Jeff Lebo and his Pirates will travel to Hattiesburg for a match-up with Southern Miss.