Game Notes

HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University men's basketball team will return to the HU Convocation Center on Saturday, as they play host to the Wildcats of Bethune-Cookman at 6 p.m. in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) match-up.

Tickets on Saturday will be $10, with $5 of every ticket sold going to the American Red Cross to help with the Haiti relief effort.

The Pirates (5-12, 2-3 MEAC) snapped a two-game skid in convincing fashion on Monday, beating North Carolina A&T in Greensboro, N.C. 65-55; Kwame Morgan II (Largo, Md.) led four Pirates in double figures with 13 points off the bench. Bethune-Cookman came from behind on Monday to beat Maryland-Eastern Shore 63-51 for its fourth win in its last five games. The Wildcats are tied for second in the MEAC with Howard, one game behind Morgan State.

Since joining the MEAC in 1995, the Pirates are 15-7 against Bethune-Cookman; Hampton won last year's meeting in Daytona Beach, Fla. 53-51 on Jan. 10, 2009. In all, the Pirates have won seven straight games in the series dating back to 2005. Bethune-Cookman won the first two meetings between the two teams in the 1996-97 season, before Hampton won two straight. Hampton also won seven straight against the Wildcats from 2000-04. The Pirates are 7-3 against Bethune-Cookman at the HU Convocation Center.

The Wildcats went 17-16 last season, finishing in a tie for third in the MEAC with a 9-7 mark before falling to Norfolk State 63-58 in the MEAC Tournament. Guard C.J. Reed was named MEAC Rookie of the Year on top of earning Second Team All-MEAC honors. The Wildcats were picked to finish fifth in the MEAC this season, with Reed earning Preseason Second Team honors.

Bethune-Cookman (11-7) is tied for second in the MEAC at 4-1 with Howard, one game behind Morgan State. Reed is third in the MEAC and leading the team in scoring so far this season, pouring in 16.6 points per game, while junior forward Alexander Starling is second on the team with 11.2 points per game, while sitting third in the MEAC with a team-high 7.9 rebounds per game.

The Wildcats are averaging 64.6 points per game on offense, while they give up 63.3 points per night. They are also out-rebounding opponents by an average of 33.7-32.3 per contest.

The Pirates are 2-3 at the HU Convocation Center so far this season, picking up their first home win on Jan. 3 with a 78-54 win over Fordham. Hampton is 1-1 at home in MEAC play, falling 69-67 to Coppin State on Jan. 9, before beating Morgan State 73-63 on Jan. 11 on ESPNU to give interim coach Edward Joyner Jr. his first conference home win. The Pirates are 7-3 at home against Bethune-Cookman.

Live stats for Saturday's game between Hampton and Bethune-Cookman are available through the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.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.