Box Score CANCUN, Mexico – The Hampton University men's basketball team (2-3) scored 45 points in the second half, while shooting 60 percent (17-for-28), as the Pirates defeated SIU Edwardsville 68-64 in the third-place game of the Mayan Division of the 2011 Triple Crown Cancun Challenge at the Moon Palace Resort on Saturday.
 
“We did a good job of ball movement and they never gave up, which was key,” said head coach Edward Joyner Jr. “The last few games have been rough and we needed a win; this was a good win for the team because everyone came and did their part. That is what it will take for us moving forward.”
 
The Pirates found themselves down early to the Cougars, with the score 32-23 at recess in favor of the Cougars. Hampton shot just 29 percent from the floor in the first half, while SIUE was 13-of-26 (50 percent) to take the nine-point lead at the half.
 
Darrion Pellum (Hampton, Va.) led the Pirates with nine points in the first half, and Michael Messer was the leading scoring for SIUE with nine points as well.
 
In the second half, the Pirates found themselves down by 14 points on three different occasions before Hampton went on an 11-0 to cut the lead to three points following a fast break by Pellum. Hampton's run started on a deep 3-pointer by Jasper Williams (Washington, D.C.), which cut SIUE's lead to 52-41.
 
Hampton would follow that 11-0 run with a 13-8 run to tie the game at 62-62 with 2:36 left to play. Williams sank a layup on the next possession to give the Pirates the lead, which they would never relinquish.
 
The Pirates finished the game with four players scoring in double figures, led by Pellum, who scored 15 of his 24 points in the second half. Christopher Tolson (Laurel, Md.) also added 10 in the second half, while David Bruce (Linden, N.J.) and Williams also scored in double figures, with 12 and 11 points respectively.
 
The Pirates finished the game with 41 rebounds and scored 32 points in the paint, 16 points off turnovers and 11 second-chance points to seal the victory.

Pellum was named to the Mayan Division All Tournament team.
 
The Pirates will be back in action on Tuesday, when they host High Point University at the HU Convocation Center at 7 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.