Monday, January 28
Hampton, Va.
8:00 p.m.
Hampton University
57
vs
64
Morgan State
PIRATES SUFFER FIRST MEAC LOSS, FALL TO MSU, 64-57
1.28.08 | Men's Basketball
HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University Pirates’ undefeated string in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and at the HU Convocation Center came to an end here on Monday, thanks to a 64-57 loss at the hands of the Morgan State University Bears.
Hampton, which had entered Monday’s game atop the league standings with an unblemished 5-0 recored, struggled from both the field and the free throw line, hitting just 32.7 percent of their field goal tries and 59.3 percent of their shots from the line. That’s nothing new. What’s new is this time it caught up with them.
“No one player lost the game for us,” said HU head coach Kevin Nickelberry. “We didn’t make the plays down the stretch. Free throws were the tale of the tape.”
The 11-7 Pirates, who dropped to 5-1 in the MEAC, trailed most of the first half and spotted Morgan State a 27-26 lead at the half. The Bears, 11-8 overall and 6-1 in the conference, led by as many as seven points in the opening half, last at 13-6 at the 12:44 mark. But the Pirates would come back to take the lead at 22-21 with 3:12 left in the period, and again at 26-25 with 1:52 on the score clock.
The second half was a see-saw battle with both teams going in spurts, Morgan State leading by as many as five points at the 13-minute mark when Reggie Holmes hit a pair of free throws, and Hampton leading by as many as five when Adrian Woodard hit a three-pointer with 7:45 remaining in the game.
Sophomore forward Mike Freeman was the lone Hampton Pirate to score in double-figures. He scored 13 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, both team highs. Rashad West, Vincent Simpson and Brandon Tunnell each scored nine points.
Three players scored in double-figures for the Bears, including Jamar Smith, 23 points, Boubacar Coly, 12, and Holmes, 10. Coly added 12 rebounds.
As a team, Morgan State out-rebounded the Pirates 45-to-38. The Bears hit 78.2 percent of their shots from the free throw line while the Pirates connected on just 59.3 percent of their shots.
The Pirates will travel to Norfolk, Va. on Saturday to face archrival Norfolk State at 6 p.m.
“If you’re ever looking for a game to bounce back in, Norfolk State is the game,” said Nickelberry. “As my players always say, ‘Enough said.’”
For more information on HU athletics, call the HU Sports Information Office at 757-727-5757 or visit the HU web page at www.hamptonpirates.com.
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