Game Notes

HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University men's basketball team will look to get back into the win column Monday night, when they welcome the Aggies of North Carolina A&T to the HU Convocation Center for an 8 p.m. tip-off.

The Pirates led at the half on Saturday, but fell 70-66 to Norfolk State at the HU Convocation Center – despite three players in double figures. Senior guard Vincent Simpson (Philadelphia, Pa.) led Hampton with 18 points, while Michael Freeman (Alexandria, Va.) added 17 points and nine rebounds and Darrion Pellum (Hampton, Va.) chipped in 12 points. North Carolina A&T lost its second straight after Saturday's 59-49 loss at Howard.

Since joining the MEAC in 1995, the Pirates are 20-8 against North Carolina A&T, including a 65-55 road win earlier this season on Jan. 18. The two teams split last season's meetings; after the Aggies beat Hampton 56-55 at the HU Convocation Center on Feb. 2, 2009, the Pirates returned the favor on March 2 at the Corbett Sports Center, escaping with a 60-59 win. Hampton has won four of the last six meetings between these two teams. The Pirates dropped the first three games in the series, starting in 1996 with an 82-75 road loss – but won 10 straight from 2001-06. Hampton is 9-4 all-time at home against the Aggies.

North Carolina A&T went 16-16 last season, finishing tied for third at 9-7 in the MEAC before falling to Coppin State 66-63 in the MEAC Tournament. The Aggies were picked to finish sixth in the MEAC this season.

Senior guard Tavarus Alston leads the team and is fourth in the MEAC in scoring at 14.8 points per contest, while senior guard Dwane Joshua is eighth in the MEAC, averaging 13.9 points per contest. Senior forward Robert Johnson is third on the team, pouring in 10.8 points per night. Junior forward/center Thomas Coleman pulls down a team-high 8.4 rebounds per contest, sitting third in the MEAC.

The Aggies are averaging 67.6 points per game as a team on offense, but they give up an average of 72.0 points per contest on defense. North Carolina A&T is being out-rebounded by an average of 41.4-36.6 per contest.

The Pirates are 3-5 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 2-3 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 9-4 at home against North Carolina A&T.

Live stats for Monday's game between Hampton and North Carolina A&T will be available on the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com. Pirates basketball games can be heard live on WHOV 88.1 FM, with Shemar Woods and Rod Pinkney 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.