ECU basketball recap:
Deacs are dynamite from long range, blow up Pirates, 81-65

Wake Forest connected on a season-high 12-of-22 shots from behind the arc

CUSA-fans.com has a new staff of team correspondents this year to help bring you, the fan, more detailed Conference USA sports coverage. Today, our ECU Correspondent Thomas "Bubba" Rosenbaum brings you a recap of the basketball game between East Carolina and Wake Forest.

Prior to the game, East Carolina’s primary concern had to be containing Wake Forest’s Kyle Visser down low. The 6’11”, 255-pounder entered the game averaging 18.7 points and 7.6 rebounds per day. He did score 14 points and grab eight rebounds, but he beat the Pirates more indirectly than directly.

With their lack of size, the Pirate coaches made about the only logical decision and put ECU in a 2-3 zone from the opening tip. However, with that zone packed in to control Visser, the Deacons received several wide-open three-point attempts with their feet squared up to the basket. They missed their first couple, but it would not take them long to heat up.

East Carolina warms up minutes prior to their New Year's Day game @ Wake Forest.

Early on, it appeared as though Wake Forest (9-5) was still in the Christmas mood, giving the ball away a few times before settling down against the Pirates’ zone.

East Carolina didn’t start much better, but held an early 7-4 advantage at the 15:15 mark. The game was tied at 9 with about 12 minutes remaining in the first half, but then the Deacs started raining three’s.

Freshmen Anthony Gurley and L.D. Williams led Wake Forest with eight points apiece in the first half. The Pirates were able to hold Kyle Visser to four first half points, but the Deacons 7-of-13 performance from behind the arc propelled them to a 40-30 lead at the break.

Although not able to keep pace with the Deacons torrid shooting (57.1 percent), East Carolina also found its offensive rhythm in the second part of the first half. After not being able to get good shots against Wake’s man-to-man defense in the first ten minutes, ECU began to get and knock down some open looks.

James Dillard tallied nine first half points to lead the Pirates. The freshman, which plays bigger than 6’5”, knocked down 5-of-6 free throws and battled well inside.

Skip Prosser’s club seized the momentum from the get-go coming out of the locker room. It scored five quick points to build the margin to 15 and established firm control of the game.

The Pirates went cold from the floor while the Deacons picked up where they left off. They finished the afternoon by nailing 12-of-22 from behind the arc, which is a season-best performance.

Wake Forest was also the recipient of a few easy transition baskets, as East Carolina failed to get back and pick up Visser running the floor.

This collection of events resulted in the Deacons extending their lead to as many as 25 at 73-48 with 5:43 remaining.

The Pirates would battle to the end, chipping away at the lead and cutting the margin to 12 on two different occasions.

Sam Hinnant, who has struggled with his shot this season, knocked down a couple three’s in the final minutes. The sophomore guard finished the game as the Pirates’ leading scorer with 13 points, including a 3-of-5 effort from long range.

Dillard finished the game with 12 points, his second consecutive game in double figures. Darrell Jenkins also had 12 for East Carolina. Gabe Blair led the Pirates with nine rebounds.

Wake Forest placed four in double figures. Freshmen guards Anthony Gurley and Ishmael Smith paced the Deacons with 15 points apiece. Smith also had five assists.

Visser finished the game with 14 points and eight rebounds while freshman L.D. Williams posted a double double with 11 points and 10 boards.

The Deacons concluded the game a red hot 57.1 percent (28-49) from the floor while the Pirates ended up at 40.4.

WFU held a 36-30 advantage on the boards.

East Carolina did take good care of the basketball, giving it up only 11 times in the game.

The loss drops the Pirates to 4-8 and they now return home to face Division II Chowan College on Saturday night at 7 :00 p.m.