Pirates hijack Louisiana Tech

By Al Myatt
©2014 Bonesville.net
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Lebo, White, Zangari, Williams Post-game Audio...

GREENVILLE — Freshman Caleb White scored 21 points and East Carolina defeated Louisiana Tech 75-68 in Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum on Thursday night.

Prince Williams added 15 points and eight assists as the Pirates improved to 14-13 overall and 3-9 in Conference USA.

The Bulldogs held a share of the league lead coming into the game but slipped to 21-6 on the season and 9-3 in C-USA.

Texas-El Paso and Middle Tennessee State are each 10-2 in conference games to share first place.

Akeem Richmond and Paris Roberts-Campbell scored 14 points apiece for ECU.

Michael Zangari stepped up with nine points and a game-high 15 rebounds, helping the size- and depth-challenged Pirates stay even with the visitors on the boards with 37 rebounds each.

Freshman Brandan Stith scored just two points but it was his layup on Roberts-Campbell's assist with 13:46 left in the first half that put ECU ahead to stay at 6-5.

Stith's hoop came in the midst of a scoreless span for the Bulldogs that lasted over five minutes. During that time, the Pirates spurted from a 5-2 deficit to a 14-5 lead.

White and Roberts-Campbell closed the 12-0 run with threes. ECU was 10 of 24 behind the arc for 41.7 percent.

The Pirates led 36-27 at the half.

A pair of threes by Roberts-Campbell helped push the margin to 44-31.

The Bulldogs closed within 62-58 on a three by Keayon McNeail with 5:11 to go. McNeail hit five of 10 from long range to lead Louisiana Tech with 20 points. Alex Hamilton added 14 points. Jaron Johnson scored 11 and Chris Anderson had 10. Kenneth Smith had seven points and nine assists in the loss.

Hamilton made one of two free throws with 1:50 to go to trim ECU's lead to 68-66.

The Pirates' last seven points came at the free throw line.

"We knew they weren't going to go easily because they're used to winning," said ECU coach Jeff Lebo.

The Pirates skipper said his team put forth a winning effort in several areas — taking care of the basketball, achieving offensive balance and getting effective results from its zone defense.

The Bulldogs made 24 of 64 field goal attempts for 37.5 percent. Louisiana hit seven of 28 threes for 25 percent.

ECU committed just 10 turnovers.

"Our goal was to have 13 or less," Lebo said. "Louisiana Tech averages 11 steals a game. I don't think we had a turnover in the backcourt against their press. That was a big factor."

The Pirates host Rice at 5 p.m. Saturday. The Owls (7-18, 2-10) are coming off a 55-51 loss at Old Dominion on Thursday night.

PAGE UPDATED 02/20/14 11:16 PM.

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