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News Nuggets, 11.12.04
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Cook, Badiane fuel ECU win in final preseason test

GREENVILLE — Two players tabbed by many observers to carry more than their share of East Carolina's basketball fortunes on their shoulders this season gave indications Thursday night they're up to the assignment.

Sophomore guard Mike Cook rang up 27 points and senior pivotman Moussa Badiane — back in action a game sooner than expected from an injury — blocked seven shots before halftime as the Pirates dispatched of Division II Barton 78-53 in their final exhibition tune-up.

Barton made the Pirates looks out-of-synch during much of the early going, trailing by only eight points at the half. But ECU engineered a 26-6 run to start the second half to take control of the first game between the two teams since 1988, when the Wilson school was known as Atlantic Christian College.

Badiane, who missed ECU's exhibition win over Newberry last week due to a thumb injury on his right hand, was cleared to play by team doctors on Thursday. In limited playing time against Barton, he compiled four points and six rebounds in addition to the blocked shots.

“If Mike wasn’t scoring and Moussa didn’t play, then we probably would’ve been behind at the half,” said Pirate head coach Bill Herrion. “We jumped the kids at halftime and they responded very well at the start of the second half.”

Sophomore guard Japhet McNeil was the only other Pirate to join Cook in double figures as he tossed in 11 points. Junior forward Mike Castro led all rebounders with nine, while McNeil and freshman guard Marvin Kilgore handed out five assists each.

ECU’s defense limited the Bulldogs to 30.9 percent shooting from the floor and forced 23 turnovers. The Pirates scored 27 points off turnovers, including 18 points in transition.

Guard Casey Moore led the Bulldogs with 19 points, while forwards Jacob Key and George Turner added 10 points each.

East Carolina opens the regular season against Pepperdine next Wednesday in the opening round of the BCA Invitational. Tip-off is scheduled for noon at the RBC Center in Raleigh.

Compiled from staff and ECU Athletics reports.

Hard-luck Louisville big man lost for season

LOUISVILLE — Louisville freshman forward Brian Johnson will miss the upcoming season because of a recurring knee injury.

The 6-foot-9, 245-pound Johnson will undergo his third knee surgery in six months later this month, Cardinals coach Rick Pitino said earlier this week.

Dr. Norman Scott, an orthopedic surgeon for the NBA's New York Knicks, will perform the surgery.

Johnson, who will redshirt, had been practicing with the team with a brace on his right knee. Pitino said Johnson has loose cartilage in the knee and was enduring daily pain.

``He has just not healed well,'' Pitino said. ``This knee needs to be really well-rested. It's a really unfortunate situation for Brian and for our team.''

Johnson's departure weakens a frontcourt that Pitino had labeled a team strength.

Pitino planned to start 6-9 senior Ellis Myles and 6-9 freshman Juan Palacios and use Johnson and 6-9 senior Otis George as reserves. Pitino said 6-10 freshman Terrance Farley is not yet ready to contribute major minutes.

Johnson averaged 13.9 points and 9.3 rebounds last season for Oak Hill Academy.

News Nuggets are compiled periodically based on material supplied by staff members; data published by ECU, Conference USA and its member schools; and reports from Associated Press and other sources. Copyright 2004 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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