ETSU Overwhelms North Florida With Athletic Display

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – When is basketball acrobatics?

When East Tennessee State University faces North Florida.

Leaping dunks, high-flying alley-oop slams and soaring 3-pointers launched on the run
were on consistent display Monday evening inside the Memorial Center, as the Buccaneers destroyed the Ospreys, 88-57, in an Atlantic Sun conference contest before a crowd of 2,711.
The Bucs maintained sole possession of first place in the A-Sun with the victory, and have won nine of their last 11 games.

“It was a good thing out there,” said ETSU sophomore forward Micah Williams, who scored a career-high 15 points and grabbed five rebounds for the Buccaneers (10-4, 4-0 A-Sun). “It’s fun when you get everybody, all nine guys, producing.”

Courtney Pigram scored a game-high 24 points on 9-of-14 shooting and knocked down 5 of 9 3-pointers to lead the Bucs, who matched up against a North Florida (2-12, 0-4) squad ranked 341 out of 344 NCAA Division I men’s basketball teams in the nation, according to the Pomeroy Ratings index, and are not eligible for NCAA postseason play.
Pigram has scored 86 points in the Bucs’ last three games, including a career-high 39 in ETSU’s 84-82 victory over Jacksonville on Jan. 3.

“Right now, he’s on a good roll and you just hope he keeps feeling it,” Bucs coach Murry Bartow said.

Kevin Tiggs added 13 points for ETSU, while Greg Hamlin contributed nine points and tied a school record with six blocks.
Kyle Groothuis scored a team-high 11 points to lead the Ospreys.

The Bucs shot 51.5 percent (34 of 66) overall from the field and 44 percent (11 of 25) behind the 3-point line, while 50 percent of ETSU’s made baskets came off assists. The Bucs also outrebounded North Florida 45-31, and picked up 21 points off 13 Ospreys turnovers.

“They’re just a really good team and they’re playing some good basketball right now,” said Germaine Sparkes, who scored eight points and grabbed five rebounds for North Florida. “[Pigram] was able to get it going early. So, focusing on him, that allowed other guys to get it going.”

Consecutive 3-pointers by Mike Smith from the right wing gave ETSU an early 6-0 lead, and the Bucs opened the game on a 10-0 run.
A 3 from the right baseline by Tiggs stretched ETSU’s advantage to 15-7 with 12 minutes, 22 seconds left in the first half.

Twelve straight points from Pigram, via a three-point play and three consecutive made 3-pointers, then made it 41-15 Bucs with 52 seconds remaining before halftime.
ETSU shot 60.7 percent (17 of 28) from the field, 50 percent (6 of 12) behind the 3-point line and outrebounded North Florida 23-13 in the first half.

“We’re playing pretty intense defense,” Hamlin said.

An interview request with Ospreys coach Matt Kilcullen was denied following the game.

“I want to be with my team,” Kilcullen said.

NOTES: Bartow said ETSU senior point guard Jocolby Davis will see a doctor this week for an update on Davis’ injured wrist. Davis, a projected starter this season who averaged 4.5 points last year, has missed all 14 of the Bucs’ games thus far. According to Bartow, Davis could still be redshirted if his wrist has not fully healed.
ETSU 56, North Florida 42

TaRonda Wiles’ game-high 14 points, four rebounds and four assists led the Bucs’ women’s basketball team to their fourth victory in their last five games, as ETSU moved into second place in the Atlantic Sun conference.

Siarre Evans added 13 points and six rebounds for the Buccaneers (5-6, 3-1), while Gwen Washington contributed eight points, six rebounds and three steals.
Jennifer Bowen’s game-high 17 points topped the Ospreys (2-11, 1-3).

The Bucs shot just 33.3 percent (22 of 66) from the floor, but held North Florida to 34 percent (17 of 50) shooting.

“At times we played down to their level,” Evans said.

ETSU benefited from 29 Ospreys turnovers, picking up 20 points on North Florida giveaways.

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