ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. – The Elizabeth City State University basketball teams will be back in action this week with three home dates for men's basketball program. The Vikings will play host to regional rival University of North Carolina at Pembroke on Tuesday night and then welcome in Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association rivals Shaw University on Thursday and Saint Augustine's University on Saturday afternoon.
 
THE BASICS
 
Men's Schedule                                                                                              
WHEN | December 11^th at 7:30 p.m. v. UNC-Pembroke                                  
WHERE | R.L. Vaughan Center, Elizabeth City, N.C.                           
 
WHEN | December 13^th at 7:30 p.m. v. Shaw
WHERE | R.L. Vaughan Center, Elizabeth City, N.C.
 
WHEN | December 15^th at 4:00 p.m. v. St. Augustine's
WHERE | R.L. Vaughan Center, Elizabeth City, N.C.
 
LAST TIME OUT – MEN'S BASKETBALL
 
ECSU sits at 3-6 overall and 1-0 in CIAA play coming into the week and will look to rebound following a tough 68-51 defeat at the hands of Catawba College last Tuesday night. The Vikings just could not get things started on the offensive end of the floor as they would end up shooting 29 percent from the field on the evening. John Maynor led the way for the Vikings as the forward poured in 20 points, 18 of which came in the second half of play.
 
SCOUTING THE BRAVES, BEARS AND FALCONS
 
UNC Pembroke comes into Elizabeth City sporting a 5-1 record overall and a 1-0 mark in Peach Belt Conference play. The Braves have started off on the right foot and have been rewarded with a regional ranking of fourth in the Southeast Region of Division II. The Braves and Vikings have a couple of common opponents this season as UNC Pembroke dropped a 77-72 decision to Barton and defeated Catawba, 80-75, on the road. Last time the Braves took the court they demolished PBC foe Young Harris College by a 105-70 margin. UNC Pembroke is currently averaging 89 points per game while limiting opponents to just 71 points per contest. The Braves are shooting a blistering 49 percent from the field and have a stainless 2-0 mark away from Pembroke, North Carolina. UNC Pembroke is being led by James Murray-Boyles who is scoring 15.3 points per game while playing in just 25 minutes per contest.
 
Shaw comes to the coast of North Carolina with a 5-2 mark overall and a 1-0 record in conference play. The Bears have two common opponents with the Vikings, as Shaw defeated Claflin 71-66 and defeated Barton 95-90 in overtime in Wilson. The Bears are currently averaging 82.6 points per game while limiting opponents to 71 points per contest. Shaw currently sits at 1-1 away from Raleigh and is being led offensively by junior Amir Hinton who is pacing the CIAA in scoring at a 33.6 points per game clip. The Lock Haven transfer is shooting 52 percent from the field and a 91 percent tally from the free throw line.
 
The final opponent of the week, St. Augustine's, visits the R.L. Vaughan Center with a 2-6 record overall and a 0-2 record in CIAA play. The Falcons have dropped two contests to common opponent Claflin and most recently dropped a 60-55 decision at home to the Panthers. The Falcons have struggled both offensively and defensively at times this season as they are currently averaging scoring 67.4 points per game while giving up 74.4 points per contest. The problems for St. Augustine's starts with ball security as the Falcons have committed 126 turnovers while only forcing 96 on the season. Offensively, the ball goes through Tyre Gathright's hands as he is averaging a team-high 18.1 points per contest and has attempted double the shots of any other Falcon player. Jquwan Ruffin is the only other St. Augustine's player scoring in double figures with a 10.1 mark through eight games.