HAMPTON, Va. – For the second time in as many games, the Hampton University Pirates’ basketball team let one slip away.

 

Leading the visiting North Carolina A&T State University Aggies by 12 points with just under eight minutes to play, the Aggies went on an 18-to-5 tear, hitting the game-winner on a Tavarus Alston 3-pointer with just five seconds to play. That was the Aggies’ first and only lead of the entire game, as they pulled off the 56-55 win.

 

Two nights earlier, against rival Norfolk State University, the Pirates blew a 15-point lead before losing, 68-62.

 

Both games were played on the Pirates’ home court, the Convocation Center.

 

“It a similar situation the last four games, where we had a chance to win the game down the stretch and we played not to lose instead of playing to win and that’s on me,” said Pirates head coach Kevin Nickelberry. “We have to go back to the basics, start over from the ground up, and teach the guys how to win again and bounce back.”

 

Against the Aggies, Vinnie Simpson and Brandon Tunnell scored back-to-back layups to put the Pirates ahead 4-0 in the opening minute of play. That margin increased to nine at the 8:28 mark on another Simpson layup.

 

The Pirates maintained a nine-point lead at halftime, 33-24.

 

After leading comfortably throughout most of the second half, it seemed like the contest wouldn’t be much of a contest when Hampton’s lead hit the 12-point margin following a Simpson 3-pointer with 7:51 to play, giving the Pirates their biggest lead of the game at 50-38.

 

From there, however, the Aggies chipped away, making it a one-possession game at the 2:41 mark when Alston, who ultimately hit the game-winner, canned a 3-point jumper that narrowed Hampton’s lead to just 52-49.

 

Hampton did increase its lead to five points on a pair of Simpson free throws with 2:05 remaining, but in the final 30 seconds of play, Alston hit two free throws that made it a one point game at 54-53 with 21 seconds remaining.

 

Tunnell then connected on the second of a two-shot free throw opportunity, putting the Pirates ahead by two at 55-53 with 13 seconds left in the contest, forcing the Aggies to have to drive the length of the court in order to have a chance to win.

 

A&T seized the moment, driving up court, putting the ball in the hands of Alston, their hot gun, who canned the winning 3-pointer with five ticks left, giving his team the amazing comeback win at 56-55.

 

A last second desperation shot by Kwame Morgan (Largo, Md.) was short and the Pirates were stunned for the second straight game.

 

“I feel like it's Groundhog Day, where everything is just happening over and over again,” said Nickelberry. “They hit their free throws down the stretch and we didn’t. With them making their free throws and stopping the clock, it gave them an opportunity. They made the big shots.”

 

The win increased the Aggies’ season record to 9-13 overall and 3-5 in the MEAC.  They were paced by Alston, the game’s leading scorer with 21 points along with six rebounds.  Ed Jones added 11 points and six boards.

 

The Pirates were paced by the trio of Simpson, Tunnell and Morgan, who netted 19, 11 and 10 points, respectively. Donte’ Harrison led all rebounders with 12 boards on the night.

 

Hampton will continue its home stand this weekend, when it hosts Delaware State University at the Convocation Center at 6 p.m. on Saturday. For more information on Hampton University basketball, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.