Free Live Odds - Scores and Odds - Sports News - Sports Information - Live Scores - Sports Statistics - Sports Articles - Sports Standings - Live Scor

GAME NOTES: The East Carolina Pirates will play three of their final four games at home, starting with tonight's Conference USA bout against the SMU Mustangs.

The Pirates come into the game on a high note, as they picked up a 76-65 victory at Rice on Saturday. It marked the second win in three games for ECU, which is now 9-17 overall and 3-9 in conference play. With three of their next four games at home, the Pirates have a chance to build some momentum before the C-USA Tournament starts.

As for the Mustangs, they were defeated in their last appearance, falling 76-63 at Memphis on Saturday. The loss was the third in four games for SMU, which dropped to 12-14 overall and 5-7 in conference play.

The Ponies lead the head-to-head series with the Pirates, 3-2, but ECU won last season's meeting by an 80-74 score.

The Mustangs had just 11 turnovers, but those mishaps led to 21 points for Memphis in a 76-63 setback over the weekend. SMU was also outdone from beyond the arc, where it went a decent 10-of-26 compared to an impressive 15-of-30 showing by the Tigers. Mouhammad Faye scored 18 points off the bench to pace SMU, while Derek Williams and Robert Nyakundi each posted 11 points. For the season, Williams tops the squad in scoring at 17.1 ppg and he is also dishing out a team-high 3.6 apg. Papa Dia adds 11.9 ppg and a team-best 8.6 rpg for the Ponies, while Faye turns in 10.8 ppg and 5.2 rpg.

ECU was tough on defense this past weekend, holding Rice to just 37.3 percent shooting from the floor and only 3-of-23 from long distance in a 76-65 win. The Pirates, meanwhile, drained 44.8 percent of their attempts from the field and 6-of-17 from downtown. Brock Young poured in 27 points and doled out four assists to lead the charge, while Jontae Sherrod had 15 points. On the campaign, Young has clearly been the team's most productive player, leading ECU with 15.0 ppg, 5.9 apg and 44 steals. Darrius Morrow comes in with 12.2 ppg and a team-best 6.8 rpg, and Jamar Abrams tacks on 11.2 ppg and 5.0 rpg for the Pirates.

Backed by another big game from Young, expect the Pirates to emerge with a victory over the Mustangs tonight.