Final Stats

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Pirates of Hampton University ran out of time in their season opener against Wake Forest in the opening round of the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off on Monday, as they fell 63-56 at the Lawrence Joel Coliseum.

 

The Pirates (0-1) looked like a team playing their first game of the season, as they shot 30 percent for the game, making just 22 of 72 shots and shooting just 42 percent from the free throw line.

 

“I am pleased with the effort, not with the outcome,” said Pirates head coach Ed Joyner. “If I had the game to play all over again, I would want the same people to be at the free throw line taking those shots. Our best shooters went to the line and just missed the front end of a one-and-one, which happens when you play your first game.”

 

In the first half, the Pirates shot 22 percent from the field after making just nine of 40 shots.

 

“The shots were there; we just couldn't get anything to fall for us,” Joyner said. “This is something that I had expected, since this was our first game of the season.”

 

The Pirates were led by Darrion Pellum and Kwame Morgan, who scored seven points each in the first half. Hampton also struggled from the free throw line, as the Pirates made just four of 11 taken in the first half. 

 

Wake Forest controlled the boards for most of the first half, grabbing 28 rebounds to the Pirates' 22.

 

Hampton looked more poised to play in the second half, as the Pirates shot 40 percent from the floor, making 13-of-32 shots. They would get as close as three points on four different occasions in the second half after being down by as many as 15 points.

 

“We have been the type of team to play a little slow in the first half, but really battle back in the second half and try to take the lead,” said forward Charles Funches.

 

The two teams would go back and forth for a little bit down the stretch, but after about a minute without a score, Morgan would make the second of his two free throws with 1:39 reminding in the game to make the score 57-54. The shot would prove not to be enough, as Travis McKie would go down and score for the Demon Deacons and put Wake Forest back up by five.

 

Hampton's final score came when Milade Lola-Charles made a layup with 56 seconds left to play in the game to make the score 59-56.

 

Hampton scored 15 points off of 19 Wake Forest turnovers and 28 points in the paint.

 

The Pirates will be back in action Tuesday night, as they take on the loser in the Winthrop/VCU game at 9:30 p.m. in the consolidation round of the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off.  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.