Box Score

PRINCESS ANNE, Md. – The Hampton University men's basketball team, behind a strong performance from Michael Freeman, got back into the win column on Monday, beating Maryland-Eastern Shore 79-65 at the W.P. Hytche Athletic Center.

The Pirates never trailed in the second half, though the Hawks closed to within one, 37-36, on a layup from Hillary Haley with 16:52 to play. Hampton (7-14, 4-5 MEAC) responded with a 14-4 run to go up 51-40 with 12:46 to play when Freeman hit a pair of free throws.

Haley hit a jumper with 9:41 to play to bring UMES within three, 53-50, but again the Pirates responded. A 24-9 run culminated at the 2:02 mark, when Freeman (Alexandria, Va.) hit a pair of free throws to put Hampton up 77-59 – its largest lead of the night.

Freeman led the Pirates with a season-high 21 points on 7-for-10 shooting, while also pulling down a career-high 16 rebounds. The reigning MEAC Defensive Player of the Week now has nine double-doubles on the season, including three straight. Darrion Pellum (Hampton, Va.) added 19 points, while Charles Funches (Bayonne, N.J.) and Vincent Simpson (Philadelphia, Pa.) each added 14 points.

Haley led UMES with 21 points, while Tim Burns added 16. Haley and Sean Berry each pulled down a team-high five rebounds.

Hampton shot 49.2 percent (30-for-61) from the floor, while also going 13-for-15 (86.7 percent) from the free throw line. The Pirates out-rebounded UMES 42-28 and held a 22-11 edge in second-chance points.

The Hawks shot 42.4 percent (25-for-59) from the floor.

UMES (6-15, 4-4 MEAC) took a 13-10 lead with 14:50 to play in the first half after a stick-back from Neal Pitt, but the Pirates used a 13-2 run to take a 23-15 lead at the 8:59 mark on a layup from Koron Reed (Philadelphia, Pa.). Simpson gave Hampton the lead for good with 4:40 to play in the first half with a layup to put the Pirates up 27-25.

Hampton led 34-29 at the half.

The Pirates shot 45.5 percent (15-for-33) in the first half, led by Pellum's nine points and Freeman's eight rebounds. Haley led UMES with eight points, as the Hawks shot 40.7 percent (11-for-27) from the floor.

The Pirates will return to action on Saturday, when they head to Orangeburg, S.C. to take on South Carolina State at 4 p.m. 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.