Game Notes

NEW YORK, N.Y. – The Hampton University men's basketball team will look to continue its winning ways in Madison Square Garden, as the Pirates will square off against the Bison of Howard University in the 2010 Big Apple Classic on Saturday at 7 p.m.

The Pirates (6-1), in their second season under head coach Edward Joyner Jr., are on a six-game winning streak following Tuesday's 60-56 overtime win over Georgia State at the HU Convocation Center. Junior guard Darrion Pellum (Hampton, Va.), the reigning MEAC Player of the Week, led the Pirates with 21 points, while junior guard Kwame Morgan II (Largo, Md.) added 13 and senior guard Brandon Tunnell (Wilmington, Del.) scored 10 points. Senior forward Charles Funches pulled down a career-high 11 rebounds.

The Bison (1-6) lost their sixth straight game on Wednesday, falling 76-62 on the road to William & Mary. Sophomore guard Anton Dickerson poured in a career-high 28 points, while sophomore forward Dadrian Collins added 14 points and sophomore forward Mike Phillips added 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Since moving to Division I in 1995, Hampton is 25-5 all-time against Howard, after the two teams split last year's meetings. Howard defeated 56-54 in last year's Big Apple Classic, before the Pirates closed out the 2009-10 regular season with a 90-42 thumping of the Bison at the HU Convocation Center. The Pirates have won 15 of the last 18 meetings against Howard.

The Pirates' hot start to the 2010-11 season hasn't gone unnoticed, as the website collegeinsier.com has included Hampton in its latest Mid-Major Top 25 poll on Monday, Nov. 29. The Pirates, who defeated Georgia State 60-56 on Tuesday for their sixth straight win, are No. 24 in the poll and the only MEAC school represented. Old Dominion is ranked No. 1 in the poll.

The Collegeinsider.com Mid Major Top 25 poll has been in existence for 12 years and encompasses schools from the America East, Atlantic Sun, Big Sky, Big South, Big West, CAA, Great West, Horizon, Independents, Ivy League, MAAC, MAC, MEAC, Missouri Valley, Northeast, Ohio Valley, Patriot, Southern, Southland, Southwestern, Summit, Sun Belt and West Coast Conference.

The Bison were picked to finish ninth in the MEAC this season, while junior guard Calvin Thompson was named Preseason Second Team All-MEAC. Thompson led the Bison in scoring (12.0 ppg) last season and was second in rebounding (5.1 rpg). Howard went 7-25 overall last season and 6-10 in MEAC play.

Heading into Wednesday's contest against William & Mary, Thompson and sophomore forward Mike Phillips and junior guard Calvin Thompson lead the Bison in scoring, with both players averaging 10.0 points per game. Phillips is also pulling down a team-high 7.0 rebounds per game, while freshman center Alphonso Leary is second in rebounding with 6.2 boards per contest.

The Bison are scoring 51.3 points per game, while giving up 69.0 per contest.

The Pirates are 2-0 in neutral-court games so far this season, having defeated Winthrop 45-44 and Boston University 51-50 on neutral floors as part of the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off. For his head coaching career, Pirates coach Edward Joyner Jr. is 4-3 on neutral courts.

Live stats for Saturday's game between Hampton and Howard will be available through the Pirates' athletic website at www.hamptonpirates.com. 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.