Box Score

Hampton, Va. – The Pirates of Hampton University turned in their best defensive effort of the season by limiting Bethune-Cookman to just 45 points on 13-of-43 shooting (.302) as Hampton cruised to a 67-45 victory Saturday night, sweeping the season series. The 45 points and the .302 shooting percentage were both a season-low for Pirate opponents. Offensively Hampton had a balanced attack with four players in double figures, led by Rashad West’s 15.

For the second straight game the Pirates (9-12, 5-5 MEAC) came out and started quickly from behind the arc. Matthew Pilgrim and Demario Mattox made back-to-back three-pointers early on and Mattox’s three from the corner gave the Pirates a 15-5 advantage 10 minutes into the game.

On the other hand Bethune-Cookman began the game 2-for-10 and by the time the Wildcats made their third field goal on Kenyan Alston’s jumper, they were behind 27-10.

Hampton’s matchup zone and full-court press kept the Wildcats from finding any kind of rhythm and two steals apiece in the first half from Mattox, Adrian Woodard and Vincent Simpson helped the Pirates score 14 points off of 13 Bethune-Cookman turnovers. At the break the Wildcats were just 5-of-20 from the field and nine of their 19 points came from the free throw line. The Pirates shot 50% in the first period, including four three-pointers for a 37-19 lead.

The second half presented much of the same as Pilgrim again opened the scoring with another shot from deep. The freshman forward then took things inside for a dunk on a feed from Woodard that gave the Pirates their largest lead of the game at 54-27.

Jimmy Hudson led Bethune-Cookman with 11 points, while John Anderson and Kenyan Alston added 10 apiece. The Wildcats finished the game 1-for-13 from three-point range and 18-of-30 at the line to fall to 4-16, 2-8 in the MEAC.

Pilgrim and Mattox each poured in 11 for the Pirates and Mike Freeman added 13.