Final Stats
HAMPTON, Va. – Chris Tolson’s 3-pointer with seven seconds to play missed left, ending Hampton University’s comeback bid in Tuesday night’s home opener against Iona College at the Convocation Center as the Gaels escaped with a 68-63 win.
Hampton (0-2) trailed 59-50 after a pair of free throws from Alejo Rodriguez with 9:10 to play, but a combination of scrappy defense and timely baskets helped the Pirates close to a 66-63 score with a minute to play after Mike Freeman sank a pair of free throws. Milan Prodanovic missed a 3-pointer for Iona, and Mike Tuitt pulled down the rebound to set up the Pirates’ final possession.
After Tolson’s missed trey, Kyle Smyth sealed the deal for the Gaels by sinking two free throws with three seconds to play.
Iona held a 41-35 lead at halftime, thanks to 44.8 percent (13-for-29) shooting and seven points each from Jermel Jenkins and Mike McFadden. Charles Funches and Milade Lola-Charles each had seven points for the Pirates at the break.
Hampton shot 40 percent (10-for-25) in the first half.
Iona (2-0) opened the second half on an 8-0 run – thanks mostly to a pair of 3-pointers from Jonathan Huffman – to take a 49-35 lead. Hampton didn’t score in the second half until the 14:20 mark, when Freeman converted a 3-point play. From there, the Pirates went on an 8-0 run of their own to close the gap to 49-43 with 12:37 to play.
The Gaels never led by more than nine from that point on, and the Pirates closed to within a point when Jordan Brooks sank a 3-pointer with 5:33 to play to cut Iona’s lead to 61-60.
Huffman answered 34 seconds later with his third trey of the night to put the Gaels back up by four. From that point, Hampton would never get closer than three.
The Pirates ended the night shooting 32.1 percent (17-for-53) from the floor, while Iona shot 40 percent (22-for-55). Hampton was out-rebounded for the second straight game, 42-33, and the Pirates defense forced 15 turnovers, while Hampton only gave up the ball 14 times.
Iona went 5-for-18 (27.8 percent) from 3-point range, while Hampton went 4-for-20 (20 percent). The Pirates also shot 86.2 percent (25-for-29) from the free throw line.
Funches led the Pirates with 12 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out in the closing seconds. Darrion Pellum added 10 points, and Kwame Morgan poured in eight points off the bench.
Tuitt led the Pirates with five assists.
Rodriguez led the Gaels with 17 points on 7-for-8 shooting and a 3-for-6 effort from the free throw line. Huffman added 14 points, 12 of which came in the second half. Rodriguez, Prodanovic and Scott Machado each had five rebounds to lead the Gaels.
The Pirates will return to action on Monday, when they play host to VCU at 7 p.m. at the Convocation Center. For more information on Hampton University basketball, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official Pirates website at
www.hamptonpirates.com.