Game Notes

HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University men's basketball team will return home looking to get back into the win column on Saturday, when they take on archrival Norfolk State at the HU Convocation Center at 6 p.m.

The Pirates (12-4, 2-1 MEAC), in their second season under head coach Edward Joyner Jr., dropped their first MEAC game of the season on Monday, falling to preseason favorite Morgan State 78-72 at Hill Field House. Junior guard Darrion Pellum (Hampton, Va.) led the Pirates with 23 points, while senior guard Brandon Tunnell (Wilmington, Del.) added 17 points and senior forward Charles Funches (Jersey City, N.J.) added 14 points to go along with a team-high seven rebounds.

The Spartans (2-12, 1-2 MEAC) snapped an 11-game losing streak on Monday with an 86-65 win over Florida A&M at Echols Hall for their first conference win of the season. Senior forward Rob Hampton led the way with 19 points, while junior forward Kyle O'Quinn added 17 points and 13 rebounds. Senior guard Aleek Pauline added 14 points for the Spartans.

Hampton is 16-14 against Norfolk State since moving up to Division I in 1995. Hampton had lost four straight to the Spartans before taking a 73-70 win in the quarterfinals of the MEAC Tournament last season. Prior to that win, the Pirates hadn't defeated Norfolk State since sweeping both meetings in 2007-08. The Pirates are 7-5 against Norfolk State at the HU Convocation Center.

The Spartans went 11-19 last season, finishing fourth in the MEAC with a 9-7 mark before falling 73-70 to Hampton in the quarterfinals of the MEAC Tournament. Norfolk State returns four starters and eight letterwinners from last year's squad, and have been picked to finish sixth in the MEAC this season. O'Quinn was a Preseason First Team selection, with Hampton earning Preseason Second Team honors.

Hampton leads the Spartans in scoring, averaging 15.6 points per game, while O”Quinn is pouring in 13.6 points per contest on top of his team-high 9.6 rebounds per game. Junior guard Chris McEachin is third on the team in scoring, pouring in 11.3 points a night.

The Spartans are averaging 66.4 points per game on offense, while giving up 78.1 points a night.

The Pirates are 3-1 at the HU Convocation Center so far this season following a thrilling, come-from-behind 62-59 win over Liberty on Dec. 22. Hampton has also beaten Georgia State 60-56, falling to Delaware 55-53 and beaten Towson 78-67 at home so far this season. The Pirates went 6-6 at home last season, winning their last three games at the Convocation Center.

After taking on Norfolk State on Saturday, the Pirates will take on North Carolina A&T on Monday at the HU Convocation Center at 8 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.