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News Nuggets, 03.26.06
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Bruins end Memphis' run

Arron Afflalo scored 15 points to lead UCLA to its first Final Four since the Bruins captured the championship in 1995. The second-seeded Bruins topped No. 1 seed Memphis 50-45 on Saturday in the final of the Oakland regional.

Ryan Hollins added 14 points and nine rebounds as UCLA won its 11th straight. The 95-point total was the lowest in a regional final since the shot clock was introduced in 1986.

UCLA (31-6) will play in next Saturday's semifinals in Indianapolis against LSU, a 70-60 overtime winner over Texas in the Atlanta regional final.

Darius Washington Jr. scored 13 points to lead the Tigers (33-4), who had won seven straight.

Scrimmage moves Pirates toward two-deep

East Carolina's offensive and defensive units played to a draw as physical play highlighted the Pirates' first intra-squad scrimmage of the spring practice period Friday night at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, according to a release from the university media relations office.

The controlled contest, which featured game officials and was played in 40-plus degree temperatures, consisted of eight 10-play possessions and a series of goal line situations from the two and five-yard lines.

"No doubt, it was a full-speed physical scrimmage and I thought we did a lot of good things on both sides of the ball," head coach Skip Holtz said. "Tonight was mainly about developing a two-deep, but we also continued to improve and build toughness."

Sophomore Patrick Pinkney, redshirt freshmen Brett Clay and Rob Kass each took turns guiding the Pirates' offensive unit during the 10-play series' while senior returning starter James Pinkney experienced limited action during the goal line phase of the contest.

Patrick Pinkney accounted for the game's only score, connecting with senior wide receiver Bobby Good on a 37-yard touchdown strike during his second possession. Prior to the scoring pass, he also hit junior Steven Rogers on 12 and 21-yard throws during the same series.

Clay and Kass both led their respective units to a total of seven first downs each and were responsible for several big plays during the evening.

Clay opened the scrimmage by completing a pair of passes to junior Phillip Henry for 12 and 18 yards before finding senior Kevin Roach for a 24-yarder. Kass' first notable completion was 13-yard effort to newly-converted tight end Davon Drew before breaking free on a pair of 16-yard rushes.

"We still have many questions on the defensive and offensive line," Holtz added. "We have to learn to be consistent on both the right and left sides. We're still struggling at center, a position that is not where it needs to be."

The Pirates' defense forced a pair of turnovers and limited the offensive unit to just two rushing plays of 20 yards or more. Sophomore tackle Brandon Setzer picked off a Kass pass and returned it eight yards after senior Shauntae Hunt made the initial hit while redshirt freshman Peter Proukou recovered a fumble during the game's third possession.

"The twos and threes are still in the air," Holtz added. "It's nice to see Aundrae (Allison) get great reps on the practice field but we need to continue to see the others out there. Davon is doing a lot of nice things since his switch to tight end and I can't be more pleased with his aggressiveness and mindset."

East Carolina will open its fourth week of spring work Monday with a session beginning at 4:00 p.m. at the Clill Moore Practice Complex.

East Carolina cagers to transfer

Citing an informed source, the Greenville Daily Reflector reported Saturday that East Carolina is expected to lose as many as seven basketball players, continuing a trend of transferring from the ECU program.

Japhet McNeil, Tom Hammonds and Jonathan Hart have confirmed their intentions to transfer from the university, while Josh King, Quinton Goods, Nick Mattone and Jeff Robinson are also not expected back.

The decisions come after individual meetings with the coaches, in which the players discussed their future with the team, according to the report.

ECU coach Ricky Stokes declined an interview, but issued a statement about the team's status.

"We are in the process of having individual meetings with our entire team," Stokes' statement said. "We will be discussing the future of each team member and that of ECU basketball. Several players have expressed an interest in exploring other options.

"This is an ongoing process and we will continue to counsel each individual player in making the best possible decision for his academic and athletic future."

Expected to return to the Pirates, who finished 8-20 last season, are rising seniors Courtney Captain and Tyronne Beale, rising juniors Jeremy Ingram and Taylor Gagnon and rising sophomore Sam Hinnant. A non-qualifier, Justin Ramsey, also is expected to join the program for his freshman season.

News Nuggets are compiled periodically based on material supplied by staff members; data published by ECU, Conference USA and its member schools; and reports from other sources. Copyright 2006 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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