GAME NOTES: With each team looking to end a losing streak, the Houston Cougars and East Carolina Pirates collide in a head-to-head American Athletic Conference clash at Minges Coliseum on Wednesday.

Houston's losing streak has extended to four games with Sunday's 62-44 defeat at the hands of Memphis. The Cougars now find themselves below .500 (7-8) with an 0-4 mark in conference play. On the road, Houston is just 1-3 this season.

The losing skid is set at three games now for East Carolina, which dropped a 69-48 decision over a week ago to Cincinnati. The Pirates are also winless in AAC play, headed into Wednesday at 0-3 in the conference. Still, the Pirates are a solid 6-2 at home this season.

Houston leads the all-time series over East Carolina, 9-4, but the Pirates have won two of the last three meetings between the sides, including an 89-78 victory in Greenville two seasons ago in the most recent clash. ECU is 4-3 against the Cougars at home in the series.

The Cougars came out flat offensively against Memphis on Sunday. Houston connected on only 33.3 percent of its field goal tries in the contest, which included a 4-of-17 mark from 3-point range. The Cougars also turned the ball over 18 times in the loss, which led directly to 23 points for the Tigers. Jherrod Stiggers is carrying the team on his back, and he attempted to do so again on Sunday with a 13-point effort. He was the only one in double figures for Houston, as Danrad Knowles was the next closest to his Stiggers's total with eight points. Knowles chipped in a team-high seven rebounds in the defeat.

Stiggers has been the strongest and most consistent player on Houston this season. The guard enters Wednesday's clash leading the team in scoring at 16.8 ppg, which is just a tenth of a point shy of Connecticut's Ryan Boatright for the conference lead. Devonta Pollard checks in as the only other player for the Cougars averaging a scoring total in double figures at 11.4 ppg. Pollard's 6.7 rpg mark is tied for the best on the squad with LeRon Barnes, and Knowles comes in behind the two of them at 6.3 rpg. Houston's scoring offense is ranked third in the AAC this season at 68.1 ppg, but the team's scoring defense can be found near the bottom of the league rankings, as the team surrenders 68.2 ppg to opponents.

East Carolina had an even more dismal offensive showing in its last outing against Cincinnati. The Pirates made only 27 percent of their shots from the field in the loss, including just 5-of-22 from 3-point range. Meanwhile, the Bearcats connected on 47.3 percent of their shots in the easy conference win. B.J. Tyson led all ECU scorers in the loss with 13 points off the bench, while Terry Whisnant posted 11 points to round out the team's double-digit scorers. Tyson also added seven rebounds in 31 minutes of action.

A freshman, Tyson has stepped up in huge ways for the Pirates this season. The youngster tops the team with a 13.3 ppg mark on 44.2 percent shooting. Whisnant (12.8 ppg) and Caleb White (12.5 ppg) make up the two other double- digit scorers this season for ECU. Michel Nzege leads East Carolina in rebounding, grabbing 5.3 boards per outing headed into Wednesday's clash. The Pirates haven't blown anyone away offensively, especially with a 67.4 ppg average on 42.4 percent shooting touch from the floor. Defensively the team has struggled, giving up 67.0 ppg to opponents.

If Houston wants to get back in the win column, this would be the game to do it. The Pirates aren't overwhelming on either end of the floor, although they have done well at Minges Coliseum. Houston will need to dominate the glass and use its inside prowess in order to take a road win.