Box Score

HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University men's basketball team trailed for much of the night Wednesday, but junior guard Kwame Morgan gave the Pirates the lead when it mattered most, sinking a 3-pointer with one second to play to help Hampton beat Liberty 62-59 at the HU Convocation Center.

The Pirates (9-2) trailed for 39 minutes, 20 seconds, but Morgan (Largo, Md.) tied the game at 59-59 with 40 seconds to play with a trey. Liberty had a shot, but the Flames turned the ball over with 20 seconds remaining, thanks to a steal by junior forward Danny Agbelese (Lanham, Md.).

Liberty (7-6) took a 53-39 lead with 9:44 to play after Evan Gordon sank a 3-pointer, but the Pirates responded with a 13-0 run, cutting Liberty's lead to one, 53-52, with 3:52 to play on a layup from senior forward Charles Funches (Jersey City, N.J.).

In all, Hampton out-scored Liberty 23-6 in the final 9:44.

Morgan led the Pirates with 22 points, going 6-for-11 from 3-point range, while Funches hit nine of 14 free throws on his way to 17 points and pulling down a team-high nine rebounds. The Pirates shot 45.7 percent (21-for-46) from the floor, and the Pirates forced 26 Liberty turnovers.

Liberty shot 52.1 percent (25-for-48) from the floor and went 6-for-12 from 3-point range. The Flames out-rebounded Hampton 36-18, but Liberty only made four trips to the free throw line.

Gordon led the Flames with 15 points, while Joel Vander Pol had 14.

Liberty jumped out to an 18-3 lead at the 12:54 mark of the first half on a 3-pointer from Gordon, and John Caleb Sanders hit a trey at the 9:42 mark to put the Flames up 23-5. The Pirates' first field goal came with 17:45 left in the first half on a breakaway dunk from Morgan, and Hampton didn't hit another field goal until Funches sank a layup with 11:47 left in the half.

Hampton went on a 9-0 run to cut Liberty's lead to 23-14 with 5:45 left in the half.

Morgan led the Pirates with nine first-half points, as Hampton shot just 31.8 percent (7-for-22) from the floor in the opening frame. Hampton forced Liberty into 15 turnovers in the first half.

Liberty shot 56.0 percent (14-for-25) in the first half, scoring 10 second-chance points while out-rebounding the Pirates 24-4 in the opening frame. Gordon led the Flames with 12 first-half points.

The Pirates will return to action on Dec. 28 through Jan. 1, when they head to San Francisco, Calif. for the Hilltop Classic hosted by the University of San Francisco. Hampton will open on Dec. 28 against Div. II Dominican.

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.