Box Score
Hampton, Va. – Reggie Holmes converted a three-point play with 2:27 remaining in overtime to put Morgan State ahead 71-70 and the Bears held on to defeat host Hampton 75-70 in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) contest Saturday afternoon. Morgan State (4-10, 2-2 MEAC) forced the Pirates into a 2-of-12 shooting performance in the extra period to snap a four-game losing streak to Hampton (5-10, 2-3 MEAC).
Ahead 34-33 at the half, the Pirates came out of the locker room and increased their lead to five with some solid play on the offensive boards. Kevin Clark cleaned up Adrian Woodard’s missed layup and Matt Pilgrim rebounded his own shot to give Hampton a 39-34 advantage five minutes into the period.
The Bears eventually clawed their way back into the game and when Holmes made his second three-pointer of the half, Morgan State had the biggest lead of the game for either team, 60-54 with 3:08 remaining.
Hampton turned up the intensity and forced the Bears into three consecutive turnovers that led to seven unanswered points, concluding on freshman Mike Freeman’s put-back dunk with 1:34 to go. The lead changed hands four times over the next minute and 10 seconds and Vincent Simpson’s free throw with 12 seconds to go made the score Hampton 66, Morgan State 64.
Morgan State’s Joseph McClean drove to the basket and found Timothy Berkley underneath for a layup with four seconds to play to tie the score. Berkley then ran the length of the floor to block what would have been a game-winning basket by Woodard on the other end.
Ronald Timus scored the first basket of overtime for Morgan State, but the Pirates who outscored the Bears 28-9 in second chance points, turned two offensive rebounds into baskets by Pilgrim and Woodard. Both were fouled and had a chance to convert a three-point play, but neither could knock down the free throw, keeping MSU within 70-68.
Holmes then sliced through the HU defense for a slashing layup over Woodard that produced a three-point play and what amounted to the game-winning free throw. The Pirates missed their next four shots and Morgan State sank four free throws down the stretch to seal the victory.
Rashad West led all scorers with 25 points for Hampton who lost despite outrebounding Morgan State 52-42, including 31 offensive boards. Mike Freeman turned in his second straight double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds, while Woodard came through with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
Timus’ 21 points led four Morgan State players in double digits, with Holmes adding 20 and six steals.
