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News Nuggets, 11.13.04
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Herrion seals the deal with New Jersey prep target

Dwight Burke made it official on Friday. The bruising frontcourt operator — with a resume that shows him graduating through stages of development at three prep programs — followed through on a commitment reported in October by Bonesville.net and became East Carolina's first catch of the fall basketball signing period.

ECU head coach Bill Herrion announced that Burke, a 6-8, 235-pound forward from St. Benedict’s School in Newark, NJ, has signed a National Letter of Intent to attend the school and play for the Pirates.

Burke will have four years of eligibility beginning with the 2005-06 academic year, noted the press release from the ECU Media Relations Office.

Burke transferred to St. Benedict’s School this year after spending the past two seasons at Rice High School in Brooklyn. As a junior, he averaged 7.6 points, 6.2 rebounds and one block per game at Rice. He began his high school career at Christiana High in Delaware before transferring to the Brooklyn school.

"We’re very excited to get a commitment from Dwight,” stated Herrion. “He played in a very successful program at Rice and now is at a very good program with a very good coach at St. Benedict’s with Danny Hurley.

“Dwight fills a need with this recruiting class. He possesses good size and strength. He’ll be a great addition to our frontcourt next year.”

In an Oct. 21 story by Bonesville.net's Thad Mumau, Burke was characterized by the elder Hurley as a blossoming talent with "a great upside."

"He has a great basketball physique for a four or five guy,” Hurley told Mumau.

Burke had attracted attention from 35 schools, including St. Bonaventure, Richmond, Rhode Island, Seton Hall, Villanova, Georgia and Rutgers.

Compiled from staff and ECU Athletics reports.

Tigers tune up for Pirates with win over USM

MEMPHIS — DeAngelo Williams rushed for 199 yards and keyed a second-half comeback with a pair of touchdowns to lead Memphis to a 30-26 victory over Southern Mississippi on Friday.

The victory makes Memphis (6-3, 3-3 Conference USA) bowl-eligible for the second straight season and snapped a two-game losing streak. It was the second straight loss for Southern Miss (5-3, 4-2).

East Carolina, which plays at South Florida in a Saturday night game, will be next on the Tigers' agenda to improve their positioning in the bowl pecking order. Memphis will challenge the Pirates in Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium in Greenville on Nov. 20.

Memphis trailed 26-14 before Williams scored from 4 and 75 yards out late in the third quarter to give the Tigers the lead.

Stephen Gostkowski, who struggled against winds approaching 20 mph, connected on a 31-yard field goal with 6:51 remaining for Memphis' final points.

After a sluggish first half by both offenses, the teams began scoring at will in the third quarter. Southern Mississippi benefited from Memphis turnovers, while the Tigers answered with Williams.

An interception by John Eubanks gave the Golden Eagles the ball at the Memphis 41. It took Southern Miss only four plays before Wayne Hardy went over from the 1. Later in the third period, Southern Miss capitalized on a Memphis fumble, converting it into a 10-yard scoring pass from Dustin Almond to Anthony Harris.

But Wimprine and Williams, who had been held in check in the first half, also were getting untracked. Wimprine hit Ryan Scott for a 68-yard score, Scott beating Southern Miss defender Howard Overby for the jump ball.

Then Williams, who was hampered by a strained right shoulder, took over. After the short TD run he broke free for 75 yards to give Memphis a 27-26 lead heading into the fourth period.

The offensive struggles of the first half were due to some good defense abetted by the stiff wind. Southern Miss led 12-7 at halftime.

Wimprine, who scored the Tigers' first-half touchdown on a 1-yard sneak, connected on 11-of-19 passes, but for only 99 yards.

Golden Eagles quarterback Dustin Almond struggled through a 9-of-20 night. One of those completions was to Antwon Courington for a 16-yard touchdown to give the Golden Eagles their halftime lead. The 35-yard drive was set up by a short Memphis punt.

Courington was the Golden Eagles offensive star of the half with five catches for half of Southern Mississippi's 128 first-half passing yards.

The wind played havoc with Gostkowski, who missed a pair of field goals, including a 37-yarder as time expired in the half.

In the second half Gostkowski missed a 35-yard extra point attempt after a penalty, his first PAT miss in 88 tries.

Darren McCaleb connected on field goals of 33 ad 28 in the first half for Southern.

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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