Liberty (6-4) vs. East Carolina (8-2)
Charlotte, North Carolina – Spectrum Center (Capacity: 20,200)
Friday, Dec. 17, 1:30 p.m. ET
ESPN+
Last Meeting: Liberty won, 77-57, on Nov. 16, 2019
Series History: East Carolina leads 5-3
Projected LU Starters:
2 Darius McGhee (Sr., 5-9, 150) – 18.8 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 2.5 apg
23 Joseph Venzant (Fr., 6-3, 170) – 5.1 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 0.2 apg
20 Keegan McDowell (R-Sr., 6-6, 180) – 11.7 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 1.3 apg
22 Kyle Rode (Jr., 6-7, 220) – 3.9 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 3.3 apg
33 Shiloh Robinson (R-Jr., 6-7, 200) – 7.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 0.4 apg
Projected East Carolina Starters:
2 Tristen Newton (So., 6-5, 190) – 17.8 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 5.1 apg
4 Brandon Suggs (So., 6-6, 185) – 11.2 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.1 apg
11 JJ Miles (Sr., 6-7, 215) – 9.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.2 apg
13 Vance Jackson (Sr., 6-9, 230) – 10.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.4 apg
21 Ludgy Debaut (Jr., 7-0, 245) – 2.9 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 0.8 apg
PREVIEW
Friday’s game between East Carolina and Liberty is part of a quadruple-header being played at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina as part of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Shootout. The Flames and Pirates will be the first game played, followed by St. Bonaventure vs Virginia Tech at 4 p.m., NC State vs Richmond at 6:30 p.m., and Wake Forest vs Charlotte at 9 p.m. EST.
The Pirates are led by fourth year head coach Joe Dooley, who previous was at Florida Gulf Coast from 2013-2018. East Carolina has failed to record a winning record during his first three seasons, winning no more than 11 games. This year, however, Dooley seems to have gotten the ship steered in the right direction.
East Carolina is 8-2 on the season with their losses coming on a neutral floor against Oklahoma, 79-74, and Davidson, 76-67. The Pirates have wins against South Carolina State, Canisius, Western Carolina, Old Dominion (twice), Coppin State, Gardner-Webb, and North Carolina A&T.
Two years ago, Liberty defeated ECU in Greenville, 77-57. Caleb Homesley led the way for the Flames with 25 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists while Darius McGhee chipped in 15 points. East Carolina was led by Jayden Gardner’s 26 points and 11 rebounds. Gardner transferred to Virginia prior to this season. Brandon Suggs and Tristen Newton were each part of that game two years ago, scoring 13 and 10 points, respectively.
KENPOM PREDICTION
Liberty 66, East Carolina 63
