Game Notes

NORFOLK, Va. – The Hampton University men's basketball team will look to get back into the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) win column, heading to Echols Hall on Saturday to take on Norfolk State at 6 p.m.

Hampton had its two-game winning streak snapped on Monday, falling 73-63 to Morgan State at the HU Convocation Center on ESPNU, despite four Pirates scoring in double figures. Charles Funches (Bayonne, N.J.) led Hampton with 17 points. Norfolk State snapped an 11-game losing streak on Monday with a 78-65 win at Florida A&M, paced by 25 points from Michael Deloach.

Since joining the MEAC in 1995, the Pirates are 15-12 against the Spartans – even though Norfolk State swept both of last season's meetings. Norfolk State beat Hampton 68-62 at the HU Convocation Center on Jan. 31, 2009, before winning 90-68 at Echols Hall on Feb. 28, 2009. Hampton won the first three meetings with Norfolk State upon reaching Division I, including a season sweep in 1997-98, and from 2001-03, Hampton won four straight meetings. Prior to last season, Hampton had won three straight against the Spartans, and four of the last five.

The Spartans went 13-18 last season, finishing in a tie for third in the MEAC at 9-7 before falling 83-69 to Morgan State in the MEAC title game. Senior guard Michael Deloach was named First Team All-MEAC last season after leading the conference in scoring at 21.5 points a contest, and came into this year as the MEAC Preseason Player of the Year, while the Spartans were picked to finish third in the league after returning three starters from last year's squad.

Deloach is second in the conference in scoring this season, leading the Spartans with 21.0 points per game and eighth in field goal percentage at 49.1 percent (106-for-216). Deloach has led Norfolk State in scoring in 10 of the team's 14 games this season. Junior guard/forward Rob Hampton averages 11.6 points a game, while sophomore forward Kyle O'Quinn leads the team, and sits fourth in the MEAC, in rebounding with 7.9 per contest.

The Spartans are fourth in the MEAC in scoring offense, averaging 67.5 points per game, while giving up 82.0 points per game on defense. Norfolk State is shooting 43.1 percent (344-for-798) from the field, third-best in the MEAC. The Spartans are out-rebounded by an average of 38.6-37.3 per game.

Since joining the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in 1995, the Pirates are a combined 167-96 against MEAC schools. Coppin State and South Carolina State are the only MEAC schools against which Hampton does not have a winning record; the Pirates are 16-16 all-time against SCSU, while Coppin State leads the all-time series with Hampton 13-12. The Pirates are also 15-7 against Bethune-Cookman; 14-12 against Delaware State; 15-9 against Florida A&M; 24-5 against Howard; 17-6 against Maryland-Eastern Shore; 19-8 against Morgan State; 15-12 against Norfolk State; and 19-8 against North Carolina A&T. Hampton has won two MEAC regular-season titles (2001, 2002), to go along with three MEAC Tournament crowns (2001, 2002, 2006).

Live stats for Saturday's game between Hampton and Norfolk State will be available through the official Spartans website at www.nsuspartans.com. Pirates basketball games can be heard live on WHOV 88.1 FM, with Shamar Woods and Matt White calling all the action.

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.