East Carolinian

Issue date: 2/17/09 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Nicholas Thigpen

When your point guard already has double-digits in assists, his intuition may be an even better option than the coach's. Brock Young didn't exactly stick to what coach Mack McCarthy had designed, but the sophomore did find James Legan for the game-winning three-pointer in ECU's 91-88 overtime victory over Rice on Saturday.

"Coach Mack actually drew up another play for it to go into the post," Legan said of the final play. "It kind of was a busted play, but we came out with the big shot."

Legan received a toss from Young and nailed the off-balance winner from the wing with less than 3.9 seconds to play.

"Brock was supposed to reverse-dribble and bounce it in to Darrius [Morrow] at that point and time, who I think was open," said McCarthy.

Either option may have been perfect for the Pirates; Morrow gave Rice fits in the post all night, scoring 19, but Young's clever play from the point was the story of this game.

Young finished with 17 points, 14 assists and six rebounds. The Raleigh native tied the school record with his 14 assists and broke the single-season record for assists with 189.

"It's pretty big," Young said of the historic night. "And as a point guard, it feels good to know I've got good shooters and can depend on them to make shots."

Rice controlled most of the overtime and held an 88-86 lead when Young drove into the lane and hit a shot off the glass to knot the game at 88 with 31 seconds left.

ECU's pressure forced a turnover via a kick-ball, which gave the Pirates possession and a chance to set up the winner.

Jamar Abrams intercepted a half-court pass, but was called for traveling, giving the Owls another opportunity at redemption. Guard Connor Frizzelle failed to draw iron on the ensuing desperation shot.

Rice guard Rodney Foster, who finished with a game-high 24 points, hit the game-tying shot in regulation with 12 seconds to play. Foster used a pump-fake to get his defender, Morrow, off his feet, and calmly knocked down a trey from the top of the key to tie the game at 80.

The Pirates had a chance to answer, but Sam Hinnant just missed on a potential buzzer beating game-winner from downtown.

With the victory, ECU (13-11, 5-6) now has its most wins since the 2003-2004 season.

"We've had a lot of firsts this year," McCarthy said. "And we hope they're not over yet. We've won as many games as we did in the league last year … I think the kids are excited about trying to get to .500 in league play."

Continued...

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