GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Pirates of Hampton University scored 36 points in the second half after being down by as many 19 points on the heels of freshman Darrion Pellum, who made the layup to give the Pirates the lead and the win with 7 seconds remaining in the game. Pellum had a game-high 14 points along with teammate Michael Freeman to snap the Aggies' eight game winning streak and to get the Pirates back in the win column.

 

Hampton (14-15, 7-8 MEAC) closed out the game on a 19-2 run that started at 9:35 with a good layup by Freeman (Alexandria, Va.) with the score 56-40 and closed it out with a good layup by Pellum (Hampton, Va.) with the final score of 59-56.

 

The Aggies, who led 39-23 at the half, scored their last field goal with 6:04 left in the contest.

 

“We were able to get some key stops and scored a few points off turnovers to get thing moving in our favor after being down by 16 points,” said Pirates coach Kevin Nickelberry. 

 

Pellum scored the final six points for the Pirates, as they shot 48 percent from the field and made 13-of-27 shots taken in the second half alone. Hampton's defense held the Aggies to just 19 points in the second half and to just 27 percent shooting, making just 6-of-22 shots taken. Hampton also forced 10 turnovers and scored 22 points in the paint and 20 off the bench in the second half alone.

 

“Our defense did a great job in the second half tonight,” Nickelberry said, “because we were able to hold them without a score for the final six minutes of the game and it is something that we will need to keep on doing headed in the MEAC Tournament next week and against Howard on Thursday.”.

 

The Pirates pulled things together in the second half and they were able to shot 36 percent from the field on the night, as they made 21-of-58 shots taken from the floor. 

 

The Aggies finished the night with three players in double figures, led by Thomas Coleman with 11 points. Also in double figures were Robert Johnson and Nicholas Wilson, who each scored 10 points on the night.

 

The Pirates will close out the regular season on Thursday in Washington, D.C. as they face the Bison of Howard University at 8 p.m. 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.