Game Notes

HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University men's basketball team will look to return to its winning ways on Monday, when they take on the Rattlers of Florida A&M at the HU Convocation Center at 8 p.m.

The Pirates (5-13, 2-4 MEAC) have lost three of their last four games following Saturday's 57-52 loss to Bethune-Cookman, despite three Pirates scoring in double figures. Florida A&M's 72-65 win at Howard on Saturday night snapped a three-game losing streak for the Rattlers.

Since joining the MEAC in 1995, the Pirates are 19-5 against Florida A&M, despite last season's 76-75 double-overtime loss in Tallahassee. Overall, Hampton has won six of the last nine meetings between the two teams, including all three meetings during the 2004-05 season. Hampton won the first meeting in the 1996-97 season in overtime, 81-79 at the HU Convocation Center. The Pirates won seven straight games against the Rattlers from 1999-2003, and Florida A&M has never won more than three in a row against Hampton. The Pirates are 9-2 all-time against the Rattlers at the HU Convocation Center.

The Rattlers (4-14, 2-4 MEAC) went 10-21 last season, finishing in a tie for eighth in the MEAC with a 6-10 mark. Florida A&M received one first-place vote in the preseason, predicted before the start of the season to finish eighth in the MEAC.

No Rattler is averaging in double figures in scoring; junior guard Christopher Walker leads the team with an average of 9.8 points per game, while senior guard Brandon Bryant is pouring in 9.3 points and junior forward Larry Jackson is adding 9.2 points per contest. Walker also leads Florida A&M in rebounding with 6.6 boards per contest; Jackson and sophomore forward Yannick Crowder are averaging 6.3 rebounds per game.

The Rattlers are averaging just 62.5 points a game on offense, while they give up 74.4 points per night. Opponents are out-rebounding Florida A&M by an average of 39.0-34.7 per game.

The Pirates are 2-4 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 1-2 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 9-2 at home against Florida A&M.

Live stats for Monday's game between Hampton and Florida A&M 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.