GREENVILLE, N.C. – The East Carolina men’s basketball team produced four players in double-figures, including career-high scoring performances from senior James Legan and sophomore Brock Young, to defeat Campbell University, 86-65, Wednesday night inside Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum.

Legan led all scorers with a career- and game-high 24 points on 9-of-16 shooting, including 6-of-12 on 3-point shots. Young totaled 18 points and went a perfect 11-of-11 from the charity stripe. The point guard also dished out six assists to help lead the Pirates to its first 3-0 start since the 2003-04 season.

Senior Sam Hinnant added 16 points and seven assists, while sophomore Chad Wynn chipped in with 11 points and five rebounds.

The Fighting Camels (1-1) placed three players in double-figures in Jonathan Rodriguez (14), Chad Thompson (10) and Preston Dodson (10), respectively.

The contest, which marked the first matchup between the in-state foes since 2003, was a back-and-forth physical battle for much of the first half. The game featured a total of 69 foul shots, 35 by Campbell and 34 from ECU.

The Pirates jumped out to an early 5-0 advantage thanks to a Wynn layup and sophomore Jamar Abrams’ 3-pointer. The Fighting Camels knotted the score at seven, on a basket by William Kossangue at 16:44. ECU used a 7-0 run during the next two minutes to retake the lead, 14-7. Campbell answered back with an 8-0 rally of its own, and took its first lead of the game, 15-14, on a foul shot by Junard Hartley with 11:37 remaining.

Young helped his squad retake the lead with five straight points to make the score 19-15. Again, the Fighting Camels rallied with a 5-0 spurt to take a one-point advantage, 20-19 at the 7:43 mark.

With 6:21 left, the Pirates used a 21-6 outburst to close out the stanza and take a 40-26 advantage into halftime. Wynn scored seven of his first half 11 points during the run.

The stingy Pirates’ defense forced 11 turnovers and held the opponent to 24 percent (6-for-25) from the field in the first half. Campbell didn’t make a field goal over the final 10:32 of the half and managed just nine points from the foul line during that span.

In the second half, Campbell cut the deficit to 12 points at the 14:02 mark on pair of free throws by Preston Dodson, but could get no closer the rest of the night. Hinnant sank a jumper in the lane followed by a Legan 3-pointer to push the Pirates’ lead to 18 points – 62-44 – and force the Fighting Camels into a timeout. The ECU advantage reached as high as 23 points – 79-56 – when Legan scored a basket with 3:44 left in the game.

The next game for the Pirates is Saturday, November 22 at 4:30 p.m. against George Mason in Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum.

East Carolina vs. Campbell
November 19, 2008
Postgame notes

TEAM

*ECU is 3-0 to start the season for the first time since the 2003-04 season and 12th time in school history.
*East Carolina won its eighth consecutive game overall in the series and its 13th in-a-row against the Campbell at home.
*The Pirates improved to 18-1 at Minges Coliseum against the Camels.
*The Pirates have had four players scored double figures in each of the last two games.
*ECU has had one 20-point scorer in all three games this season.
*The Pirates have won back-to-back games by 20-plus points for the first time since defeating Campbell by 39 (93-54) and UNC Pembroke by 41 (100-59) in their first two games of the 2003-04 season.
*ECU recorded its fifth consecutive victory inside Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum dating back ot the final two home games of the 2007-08 campaign.
*East Carolina used the starting lineup of Jamar Abrams, Sam Hinnant, James Legan, Chad Wynn and Brock Young for a third consecutive game.

Senior Sam Hinnant

*Sank a career-high 12 free throws. He is 22-of-25 from the foul lines this season (.880)
*Only player to score double figures in all three games this season.
*First missed free throw snapped a streak of 12 consecutive made free throws to start the season.

Senior James Legan

*Poured in a career-high 24 points, besting his previous career best of 20.
*Tied his career-high by making six 3-point field goals.
*Has made at least four 3-point field goals in each of the last two games.
*Grabbed a career-high six rebounds, besting his previous mark of four on two occasions.

Sophomore Chad Wynn

*Scored double figures for the second time in three games this season.

Sophomore Brock Young

*Netted a career-high 18 points, eclipsing his previous high of 12 points at Marshall as a freshman (Jan. 16, 2008)
*Scored double figures for the first time in 13 games dating back to last season (10 vs. Southern Miss, February 2, 2008)
*Dished out his 100th career assist. He has tallied 103 assists thru 33 career games.
*Converted the Pirates' first "And 1" of the season.