Box Score

College Park, Md. – Making his first career start, Hampton’s Demario Mattox scored a career-high 21 points and recorded five steals, but the Pirates committed 40 fouls and sent Maryland to the free throw line 54 times, eventually falling to the Terrapins 102-75 in the 2K Sports College Hoops Classic benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer. With his squad decimated by preseason injuries, first-year Pirate coach Kevin Nickelberry was limited to eight scholarship players in his Hampton debut.

Less than five minutes into the game the Pirates were already in the bonus and staring at a 12-1 deficit after two free throws by Maryland’s James Gist (12 points). Hampton cut the Terrapin lead to 14-8 on a three-pointer from the top of the key by Kevin Clark, but Maryland responded with a 16-5 run.

Hampton freshman Mike Freeman turned in back-to-back three-point, plays, including a spectacular dunk off of a pass from Mattox to finish the first half with a team-high 12 points on 4-of-4 shooting from the field and 4-of-5 from the line. However, the Terrapins took advantage of the absence of 6-foot-8 Pirate freshman Matt Pilgrim and his backup Lionel Pehoua. The Terps pounded the ball inside, outscoring Hampton 28-10 in the paint to take a 49-32 lead into the half.

Maryland capitalized on several Hampton miscues early in the second half that led to easy fast break baskets for the Terps. D.J. Strawberry’s layup capped a 9-0 run for Maryland and gave the Terps their largest lead of the game, 65-36, with just under 15 minutes remaining.

The Pirates attempted to use the long ball to keep them in the game, launching 44 shots from behind the arc on the night. They made three-pointers in five straight trips up the floor, including three consecutive shots by Mattox that brought Hampton to within 20 at 89-69.

However, Maryland made 8-of-13 free throws over the final four minutes to provide the final 102-75 margin. Strawberry led six Maryland players in double figures with 19 points and seven rebounds as the Terps outrebounded the undersized Pirates 59-36. Maryland made 39 of its 54 free throws for the game and outscored Hampton 52-16 in the paint.

Mattox, who made just 4-of-23 three-pointers as a freshman and whose previous career-high was six points, knocked down five of his nine shots from behind the arc for a game-high 21 points. Freeman was the only other Hampton player in double figures, finishing with 14 points and six rebounds.

The Pirates shots just 31% for the game, including 25% from three-point range where they made just 11-of-44 attempts.

Hampton will face New Orleans tomorrow at 4 p.m. in the consolation bracket.