News Nuggets, 03.06.04
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Deliberations continue on ECU chancellor candidates

In the minds of the members of East Carolina University's top policy-making body, patience is virtue when it comes to identifying the school's next supreme leader.

The ECU Board of Trustees, which is preparing a list of chancellor candidates, will resume its deliberations early next week.

The board, which met for nearly three hours in closed session Friday, recessed without reaching a final decision on the list of candidates it will submit to University of North Carolina President Molly Corbett Broad. The board will meet by telephone conference call at 5 p.m. Monday.

The board met Friday after receiving a list of candidates from the Chancellor Search Committee. Three finalists identified by the committee were in Greenville Wednesday and Thursday for private meetings with the committee, board members, faculty representatives and senior administrators.

Bonesville.net reported on Friday that the finalists from outside ECU’s present administration are Steve Ballard, the provost at the University of Missouri-Kansas City; Janie M. Fouke, dean of the college of engineering at Michigan State; and Roderick McDavis, provost and vice president at Virginia Commonwealth.

Interim chancellor William Shelton may also be considered for the permanent job by Broad and the trustees, but Shelton has not participated in the application and interview process.

Jim Talton, chair of the board and also the leader of the search committee, said, "We want to think about our decision a little more and will consult with President Broad before our recommendation is final."

Broad is expected to present her nomination for chancellor to the UNC Board of Governors for action on March 19.

The new chancellor will succeed Dr. William V. Muse, who resigned in September. Shelton has been serving as interim chancellor since that time.

Tourney bid secure for ECU, courtesy of SLU

ST. LOUIS — East Carolina was the biggest winner when Saint Louis belatedly dug itself out of a deep hole to overcome underdog Houston on Friday night.

Phillip Hunt forced overtime on the putback of a desperation air ball at the buzzer and Josh Fisher had 15 points, eight rebounds and six assists to lead the Billikens to a 72-69 overtime victory over Houston Friday night.

The loss made Houston the odd man out in the three-way struggle between the Cougars, ECU and Tulane for the 12th and final spot in next week's Conference USA Tournament.

For most of the game, though, Houston appeared to be headed for an upset that would have postponed the determination of the team that would take the tourney's only remaining seed until the conclusion of Saturday's regular season-concluding league games involving the Pirates (at Southern Mississippi) and Tulane (at Charlotte.)

Saint Louis, which had already clinched its berth in the tournament, trailed by 20 points with 12 minutes left in regulation.

The Billikens (16-11, 9-7) rebounded from a 17-point first half — its worst of the season — after coach Brad Soderberg ordered them into a full-court press for the first time. The tactic helped Saint Louis climb back from a nine-point deficit in the final minute of regulation capped by Hunt's basket of Fisher's long heave.

Saint Louis never led until overtime, during which it clinched the victory at the free throw line. The Billikens were 8-for-10 at the line in the extra period, and Fisher was 4-for-6 in the final 34 seconds.

Andre Owens missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer for Houston. Anwar Ferguson had 13 points, 11 rebounds and five blocked shots for the Cougars (9-18, 3-13), who lost eight of their last nine.

Soderberg went to the press with about eight minutes left and Houston leading 45-30. The tactic revived a sluggish team minus two of its stars. Hunt started in place of Reggie Bryant, at home in Houston after his father suffered a stroke. Tom Frericks, the team's top rebounder, is out with a separated shoulder.

Fisher, Chris Sloan and Izik Ohanon carried the load in their absence. Sloan had 21 points, one off his career best, before fouling out with 50 seconds to go in regulation. Ohanon had 18 points and three blocked shots.

Nothing went right for Saint Louis at the start, not even the National Anthem. There were two versions, the second by senior Ross Varner, then the Billikens missed their first five shots and had three turnovers before Sloan hit a 3-pointer with 14 minutes to go.

C-USA standings, scoreboard & schedule

USM coach steps down on eve of ECU game

HATTIESBURG — Southern Mississippi coach James Green resigned Friday, ending a contentious eighth season for the former Conference USA coach of the year.

Green, who was in the final year of a four-year deal that paid him about $210,000, will not coach the final regular season game Saturday at home against East Carolina.

Assistant coach Jeff Norwood will be the interim coach. The Golden Eagles begin play in the conference tournament next week in Cincinnati.

Green led Southern Miss to a C-USA regular season title in 2000-01 and earned league coach of the year honors. The Golden Eagles went 22-9 and played in the NIT that season.

But two losing seasons followed and the Golden Eagles were 13-13 and 6-9 in C-USA heading into Saturday's game.

Sagging attendance at Reed Green Coliseum also hurt Green. The Golden Eagles are drawing about 3,300 per game to the 8,095-seat arena this season.

In the past two months, Green criticized the administration's commitment to the basketball program and the fans for lack of support.

The former Iowa State assistant replaced M.K. Turk in 1996 and compiled a record of 123-109 with the Golden Eagles.

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News Nuggets are compiled periodically from staff, ECU, Conference USA and its member schools, and from Associated Press and other reports. Copyright 2004 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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