Charlotte @ East Carolina preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 18, 2018 ) East Carolina 49, Charlotte 55

Charlotte looks to earn a fourth straight win when it visits East Carolina on Sunday for a non-conference clash. The 49ers are coming off a home rout of Maryland-Eastern Shore on Thursday, while the Pirates have won two straight after their own rout of the Hawks on Tuesday.

Junior guard Jordan Shepherd leads the Charlotte scoring attack with 16.2 points per game, while fellow guards Jahmir Young and Drew Edwards are contributing 10.8 and 10.3 points, respectively. Coach Ron Sanchez emphasizes defense for the 49ers, who hold opponents to 63.5 points per game and 42 percent shooting from the floor. Sophomore forward Jayden Gardner has been a force inside this season for East Carolina, leading the team with averages of 20.1 points and nine rebounds while shooting 58.3 percent from the field. Freshman forward Brandon Suggs and junior guard Tyrie Jackson are each scoring 10.9 points per contest for the Pirates.

TV: 4 p.m. ET, No TV

ABOUT CHARLOTTE (6-4): The 49ers have been able to get to the free-throw line quite a bit this season as well as being successful when they get there, with the team's 152 made free throws more than their opponents' 140 free-throw attempts. It certainly helps that Charlotte is playing a four-guard starting lineup, though looking at foul numbers, there isn't much of a disparity with the 49ers committing 150 to opponents' 166. Charlotte has just been able to draw shooting fouls, as well as make sure to get a second free throw on one-and-ones, while its opponents are shooting 57.1 percent overall at the line.

ABOUT EAST CAROLINA (4-7): A young East Carolina team got a little younger last week when its lone senior Seth LeDay officiallly left the team. The 6-7 forward played in the team's first six games this season while averaging 8.7 points and 4.0 rebounds off the bench, but hadn't played since with coach Joe Dooley telling reporters that LeDay was dealing with some personal issues last weekend. After the win over Maryland-Eastern Shore, Dooley confirmed that LeDay has left the team, leaving the Pirates with a little less experience and depth, though it isn't something they haven't been able to deal with in the first five games without him.

TIP-INS

1. Ten Charlotte players had at least one rebound in the win over Maryland-Eastern Shore, led by F Amidou Bamba grabbing a season-high-tying 11.

2. Suggs had the first double-double of his career with 10 points and 10 rebounds against Maryland-Eastern Shore, adding a career-high six assists.

3. Entering Saturday, Gardner led all Division I players in free throws made (73) and free-throw attempts (95).

PREDICTION: East Carolina 71, Charlotte 67