By By BRIAN HAINES
Sports Writer
GREENVILLE — East Carolina’s road to its first wining record in 12 season’s just got very bumpy.
The Pirates (1-2) got stunned by the Campbell University 74-68 on Tuesday and now head now head to the Virgin Islands to play in the Paradise Jam Tournament on Friday at 3:30 p.m.
East Carolina’s first opponent is No. 10 Tennessee (2-0), who just shellacked UNC-Asheville 124-49.
The Volunteers’ set a school record for points and tied a school record for three-point shots made with 16, while dishing out 34 assists. The win was coach Bruce Pearl’s 100th with the school, as he improved his record to 100-37.
The Pirates, who have been turnover prone in their first three games, will no doubt have their hands full as the Vols are a pressing team that has racked up 21 steals and forced 48 turnovers in two games.
The Camels forced ECU into 20 turnovers.
Also competing in the tournament are Boston College, DePaul, the University of Northern Iowa, Purdue, Saint Joseph and San Diego State.
Tennessee features five players who are averaging over 10 points a game led by 6-7 sophomore guard Scotty Hopson (20.5), 6-6 sophomore guard, Cameron Tatum (14), 6-7 senior G/F Tyler Smith (11), 6-9 junior F/C Wayne Chism (11) and 6-8 sophomore forward Rolando Woolridge (11).
Smith and Chism lead the Vols on the boards averaging seven a game, while Bobby Maze and Melvin Goins lead the team in assists with 10 and nine, respectively.
Woolridge is the son for former NBA center Orlando Woolridge.
In the first two games Hopson, Smith, Chism, Maze and guard J.P. Prince have gotten the starting nods.
Against Campbell, the Pirates were led by Brock Young’s 19 points, while Jontae Sherrod had 13 and Darrius Morrow had 12.
ECU held a 37-36 halftime lead, but got out-scored 11-2 in the final three minutes by the Camels.
The loser of the East-Carolina-Tennessee game will advance to the loser’ bracket of the tournament and play the winner of DePaul-Northern Iowa game on Saturday at 6 p.m.
The winner will advance to play the winner of the previously mentioned game Sunday at 6 p.m.