Freshman Brandon Suggs during Campbell game - 12/14/19

Freshman Brandon Suggs looks to avoid contact and finish a lay-up during Saturday's matchup with Campbell.

The East Carolina University (3-7, 0-0 AAC) men’s basketball team has struggled to produce wins to start the season. With a 79-67 home victory against Campbell University (6-3, 0-0 Big South) on Saturday, the Pirates are looking to turn their season around.

The Camels entered the matchup off to their best start since the 2011-2012 season, while the Pirates sported a four-game losing streak prior to defeating Campbell.

“I thought we got off to a much better start,” head coach Joe Dooley said according to ECUPirates.com. “I thought that our defensive recognition and attention to detail was better, which I thought got us off to a good start with the exception really of a number of turnovers that we hadn't done this year."

Campbell scored the first bucket of the game, but that was the only lead the Camels had the entire game. After the Pirates scored, they never looked back, with the largest lead being 16 points during the first half. During the second half, Campbell reduced the margian to 38-33, but ECU stood its ground and did not let up. The lead grew and the Pirates were able to take their third win of the season.

Sophomore forward Jayden Gardner has been the leading scorer for the Pirates this season, averaging 19.7 points per game. Against Campbell, Gardner put up 22 points to lead both teams in scoring. He went four-for-six on field goal attempts, but Gardner lived at the free throw line in this game, making 14 of his 16 attempts. Freshman forward Brandon Suggs also put up impressive numbers with 16 points and nine rebounds. Suggs shot a perfect seven-of-seven at the free throw line as well.

In total, four Pirates had double figures to help secure the win. Along with Gardner and Suggs, junior guard J.J. Miles had 12 points and freshman guard Tristen Newton finished with 11 points and eight rebounds.

"It's exciting,” Gardner said according to ECUPirates.com. “If you don't like being a winner you're playing the wrong sport, any sport really. It's nice to get back in the (win) column tonight."

Campbell’s sophomore guard, Cedric Henderson Jr., dropped 18 points against ECU to lead his team during the game. Henderson finished the game with four fouls and played a total of 33 minutes despite being caught up in foul trouble.

Campbell gave up a lot opportunities at the line and the Pirates capitalized by shooting 26-of-29 as a team. Both sides shot poorly from the three-point arc. However, ECU made up for it with 47.1% shooting from the field and 89.7% from the free throw stripe to aid in their effort on Saturday.

ECU will face the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (1-10, 0-0 MEAC) on Tuesday and attempt to defend home court once again. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. inside Minges Coliseum.

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