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Sports

Cougars' goal is keeping upset at bay

By CHRIS ELLIOTT
The Daily Cougar

The 5-17 East Carolina Pirates have not won a game since Jan. 6, when they defeated the Div. II Chowan Hawks 68-50 at home.

They lie stagnant near the bottom of every major statistical category in Conference USA, but UH head coach Tom Penders still said his team will need to be ready to take it down to the wire if necessary for Saturday' s 7 p.m. game against the Pirates at Hofheinz Pavilion.

Memories of last year' s home loss to Central Florida, which popped the Cougars' NCAA Tournament bubble, still haunt Penders and his two remaining seniors.

"Our next three games at home are critical if we want any chance of playing in the postseason," Penders said. "The Pirates are very athletic, and I think they' re a lot more talented than they were last year. They' ve just been a little inconsistent on the offensive end."

There is a possibility that the Cougars could run the court Saturday night without one of their most dangerous players. Junior guard Marcus Malone, who has hit some game-changing shots in the final minutes of four close contests this season, could sit out after twisting his ankle in Wednesday' s win over Southern Methodist.

Penders said he gave the team a day off Thursday with the intention of hastening the healing process. 

"It was still sore today, and he said he iced it all night (Wednesday)," Penders said. 

If Malone is unable to play Saturday, Penders said Junior guard Robert Lee is capable of filling the role, as long as he keeps a defensive mindset and does not try to force shots.

Offensively for ECU, guards Courtney Captain and Darrell Jenkins are the only players averaging double figures in points. Captain (11.4 points per game) and Jenkins (11.7 points per game) will likely be put in high-pressure situations by UH senior guard Oliver Lafayette and junior guard Robert "Fluff" McKiver.

Penders named an additional variable that will be integral to UH' s game.

"If our students come out, there' s no chance that we' ll have a flat performance," Penders said. 

dcsports@mail.uh.edu
 

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