Box Score
Daytona Beach, Fla. – Freshman Matt Pilgrim registered his first career double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds and Adrian Woodard added 14 points off the bench, but it was Mike Freeman’s put-back dunk with 22 seconds remaining that proved to be the winning basket as Hampton defeated Bethune-Cookman 59-55 Saturday afternoon. With their first conference victory the Pirates improved to 4-9 overall, 1-2 in the MEAC, while the Wildcats (2-10, 0-3 MEAC) dropped their ninth game in a row.
The matchup mirrored the last time these two teams met in last year’s MEAC Tournament quarterfinals when Hampton pulled out a 57-55 victory. It was a see-saw battle that saw nine ties and 18 lead changes with the largest lead of the game was a six-point Bethune-Cookman lead late in the first half.
Trailing 28-27 at the half following a basket by Hampton’s Demario Mattox at the buzzer, the Wildcats built a 35-30 lead four minutes into the second half on a jumper by Dewayne Pettus. Mattox responded with a three-pointer and on the ensuing Wildcat possession Pilgrim stole the ball at half court, drove to the basket and threw down a monstrous dunk over Pettus to complete a three-point play of his own.
Aaron Nelson helped the Wildcats get back on top 41-36 before the Pirates answered once again with a 6-0 run, four points coming from Junior Pehoua and a basket by Woodard that gave Hampton a 42-41 advantage with 10:44 to go.
Neither team led by more the three over the next 10 minutes and Bethune-Cookman’s Josh Cummings knocked down a pair of free throws with 54 seconds remaining to knot the game at 55. Hampton ran the clock down on its next possession and when Rashad West’s three-pointer bounced off the rim, Freeman (8 points, 9 rebounds) was there to grab it and put back with an emphatic two-handed dunk with 22 seconds on the clock.
With the Wildcats looking to get to the basket for a potential game-tying field goal, Freeman stepped in front of a driving Pettus to pick up the charge call and give Hampton the possession. West then toed the line and made two free throws to provide the final 59-55 margin.
The Pirates outrebounded the Wildcats 37-32, including 17 offensive boards that led to 20 second chance points. Bethune-Cookman remained in the contest by capitalizing on 22 Hampton turnovers which the Wildcats converted into 22 points.
Pettus’ 17 points led the Wildcats and Ron Mitchell added 14, but Jimmy Hudson who came in averaging 15 points per game was held scoreless on 0-for-6 shooting.
The Pirates return to the court on Monday when they visit Florida A&M at 7:30 p.m.
