Richmond rides Broncos for 37

By Al Myatt
©2013 Bonesville.net
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GREENVILLE — Senior guard Akeem Richmond scored a career-high 37 points for East Carolina in a 96-78 nonconference basketball win over Fayetteville State on Tuesday night in Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum.

Richmond made 10 shots from behind the arc, a school record. He was 10 of 17 from long distance and made all five of his free throws. He made his only field goal attempt from within the arc.

It was a significant bounce back personally for Richmond, who played on the high school level at Southern Lee and began his college career at Rhode Island before transferring to ECU.

He had gone three for 13 on 3-pointers in a 70-68 home loss to UNC-Wilmington on Sunday night.

"I've been sick since the UNCW game," Richmond said. "I really couldn't sleep after that game, I was really disappointed in myself. I feel like as a senior, I admit as a man, I really have to step up. That's what I tried to come out and do tonight — and I feel like I did that."

Richmond had offensive help as the Pirates improved to 7-2 going into a 2 p.m. home game Sunday with Mount Olive. Freshman Caleb White had 14 points and three assists. Prince Williams totaled 12 points. Paris Roberts-Campbell had 11 points and three assists.

Freshman Brandan Stith had 14 rebounds and blocked four shots. Guard Antonio Robinson finished with four assists and nine rebounds as the Pirates led 40-32 on the boards.

ECU used a 12-4 run to lead 45-35 at halftime.

The Pirates made 27 of 54 field goal attempts for 50 percent and dropped 31 of 46 at the line for 67.4 percent.

"I thought we got better tonight," said fourth-year ECU coach Jeff Lebo. "I thought we came out and played with a little more tenacity and a little bit more energy tonight. Obviously, Akeem was unbelievable.

"We played a lot of zone, trying to keep them off the foul line. They've been really good off the bounce, getting to the foul line. That was the difference in the game I thought, the 46 to the 14 on the foul line."

The Broncos dropped 11 of 14 free throws.

Torian Showers scored 18 points for FSU (4-4) while Tyrrel Tate added 17.

On a somber note, Lebo said sophomore forward Marshall Guilmette may be out for the remainder of the season with a knee injury. Guilmette averaged 7.0 points and 4.4 rebounds in five games. He had made four starts this season.

PAGE UPDATED 12/04/13 11:16 AM.

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