Campbell @ East Carolina preview

Campbell at East Carolina

Last Meeting ( Jan 2, 2014 ) East Carolina 79, Campbell 71

Campbell travels to face Tarheel State rival East Carolina for the 59th time on Monday. Each team is searching for its third consecutive victory.

The Pirates are playing their second game under interim coach Michael Perry, who took over following Jeff Lebo’s resignation on Wednesday and also was the team’s acting coach when Lebo was sidelined by hip surgery last season. East Carolina has won two straight close games, edging UNC Wilmington 93-88 in overtime and rallying to beat Delaware State 63-57 on Friday. The Fighting Camels claimed their first two wins this season over NCAA Division I opponents last week, beating USC Upstate (93-74) and winning at Stetson (85-78). East Carolina has won 31 of the 41 meetings since the Camels moved to NCAA Division I, but Campbell has claimed three of the last five.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN3

ABOUT CAMPBELL (4-4): The Camels don’t have much size – they don’t start anyone over 6-7 and no one on the roster is taller than 6-8 – but their guards can fill it up. Campbell ranks eighth in the nation in field-goal percentage (52.4) and ninth from 3-point range (44.4 percent) through Saturday. Point guard Chris Clemons (22.2 points) is just 5-9 but leads the Big South in scoring, while backcourt mate Marcus Burk averages 19.4 points.

ABOUT EAST CAROLINA (4-4): The Pirates’ top two scorers are guards B.J. Tyson (15.8 points) and Isaac Fleming (13.8 points), but they’ve outscored each of their first eight opponents in the paint. Swingman Kentrell Barkley (13.1 points, 6.3 rebounds) has contributed to that, as has 6-10 center Jabari Craig (6.1, 7.6). Freshman guard Shawn Williams (9.5 points) has given the Pirates a spark off the bench lately, scoring in double figures in three straight games.

TIP-INS

1. Clemons has scored in double figures in 57 consecutive games and 71 of his 72 career contests.

2. Campbell is 25-for-40 from 3-point range over its last two games.

3. East Carolina has made eight more free throws (36) than its opponents have attempted during its two-game winning streak.

PREDICTION: East Carolina 76, Campbell 72