East Carolina looks to even league record, extend win streak at Tulane

The Pirates are 0-5 all-time against the Green Wave at Fogelman Arena

Since suffering an extremely disappointing 76-70 loss at Rice in its last road contest, East Carolina has regrouped to gather much-needed, impressive home victories over Southern Miss and UCF.

Now, Mack McCarthy will see if his young club can handle the resulting prosperity and collect what would be a milestone victory in many regards.

To say the Pirates have struggled to win on the road since joining Conference USA would be an understatement. ECU has only won five league games away from Minges Coliseum and has never won at Tulane’s Fogelman Arena.

However, this bunch of Bucs just may have enough confidence and skill to garner a second victory over the Green Wave this season—which would be only the third time ECU has swept both games from a CUSA opponent. A win would be the Pirates third straight in the conference, which would be a feat accomplished for just the second time. It would also be ECU’s fifth league win of this season—tying the single-season record for most CUSA wins, which was accomplished in 2001-02 and 2007-08.

ECU defeated Tulane, 69-66, in the CUSA opener in Greenville back on January 7 th. After leading by as many as 12, the Pirates hung on for the league-opening win by virtue of outscoring the Green Wave, 27-11, from the free throw line. Tulane actually made seven more field goals than ECU, as both squads shot 42 percent from the floor. Sam Hinnant and James Legan led the way for the Pirates by scoring 15 and 14 points, respectively. The Green Wave’s Daniel Puckett led all scorers with 22 points while Eric Vianney and Asim McQueen also scored in double figures for Tulane with 13 and 11.

Tulane’s top three scorers—Kevin Sims, Robinson Louisme and Kris Richard—were held to a combined 11 points in the first game when they average more than 32 together on the season.

Following a mid-season lull as conference play began, the East Carolina offense has found its stride. It has produced 80 points or more in three of the Pirates last five games—all of which have resulted in victories for the purple and gold.

Five Pirates scored in double figures in each of the victories over Southern Miss and UCF.