HAMPTON, Va. – The Pirates of Hampton University men's basketball team did not open conference play the way it hoped Thursday night at the HU Convocation Center, falling 65-49 to conference newcomer Savannah State.
 
The Pirates, who seemed like they couldn't get anything going throughout the game, made just 14 shots, shooting 30 percent from the floor and going 0-for-12 from 3-point range.
 
Savannah State picked up its first-ever win over Hampton in three meetings.
 
The Pirates (3-4, 0-1 MEAC) went almost 15 minutes in the second half without making a field goal. After being down 39-26 at the half, the Pirates battled back to within three points when senior Darrion Pellum (Hampton, Va.) nailed a jumper at the 15:56 mark to cut Savannah State's lead to 39-36 and cap a 10-0 run to open the second half.
 
But the Pirates would get no closer.
 
The Tigers (3-5, 1-0 MEAC) would extend their lead back to as many as 18 points. Hampton would not get another field goal until the final seconds of the game, when senior Mike Tuitt (Bronx, N.Y.) made a floater in the lane.
 
“It's really tough to go that long in a game without a made basket,” said head coach Edward Joyner, Jr. “I am glad we were able to make the free throws, which kept us in it for the most part.”
 
Hampton made 11 of 12 free throws in the second half.
 
In the first half, the Pirates found themselves down by as many as 15 points, while shooting just 36 percent (8-for-22) from the floor. Savannah State, on the other hand, shot an impressive 50 percent (14-for-28) from the floor.
 
Savannah State finished the game with three players in double figures, led by Deric Rudolph's 21 points behind five 3-pointers. Rashad Hassan finished with 17 points and Preston Blackmon chipped in with 11 points.
 
Pellum was the lone Pirate to score in double figures, pouring in 15 points.
 
The Pirates will be back in action on Sunday, as they take to the road to face the Bison of Howard University in the 2011 Big Apple Classic at Madison Square Garden in New York, N.Y. at 6 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.