Game Notes

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The Hampton University men's basketball team will return to action on Thursday and Friday, competing in the 21st annual Dr Pepper Classic hosted by Tennessee Chattanooga at the McKenzie Arena.

The Pirates will take on Utah Valley on Thursday at 4:30 p.m., before squaring off against either Chattanooga or Longwood on Friday at 4:30 or 7 p.m.

The Pirates (4-8), in their third season under head coach Edward Joyner Jr., lost their fourth straight game on Dec. 20, falling 64-54 at Robert Morris. Sophomore center David Bruce (Linden, N.J.) led the way with 16 points and 13 rebounds, while senior guard Darrion Pellum (Hampton, Va.) added 11 points.

Utah Valley (6-8) dropped its third straight game on Dec. 22, falling 65-52 at Montana, despite 12 points from sophomore center Ben Aird and 10 rebounds from senior forward Geddes Robinson.

The Wolverines went 19-11 last season, winning the Great West conference title in the process with an 11-1 mark in league play. Utah Valley, under the direction of 10th-year head coach Dick Hunsaker, returns four starters and nine letterwinners from last year's squad, and the Wolverines were picked to repeat as Great West champions.

Senior guard Isiah Williams is Utah Valley's leading scorer, pouring in 14.5 points per game, while Robinson is second in scoring with 10.9 points per contest and the team's top rebounder with 10.1 boards a contest.

The Wolverines score 66.1 points a game, while giving up 65.3 points a night.

Tennessee Chattanooga (4-8) picked up its second win in three games on Dec. 21, defeating Hiwassee 95-41. Senior guard Ricky Taylor led the Mocs with 21 points, while redshirt-junior guard Dontay Hampton and freshman forward Jared Bryant each added 14 points – and Bryant added a team-high seven rebounds.

Chattanooga went 16-16 last season, finishing in a tie for first in the SoCon with a 12-6 conference mark. The Mocs, under eighth-year head coach John Shulman, return four starters and seven letterwinners from last year's squad, and were picked to win the North Division in the SoCon this year.

Taylor leads the Mocs in scoring so far this season, pouring in 12.8 points per game, while senior forward Omar Wattad is second with an average of 11.9 points a contest. Redshirt-junior forward Drazen Zlovaric is the team's top rebounder, pulling down 6.5 boards a night to go with 9.8 points per game.

Chattanooga is averaging 71.4 points per game on offense, while giving up 65.8 points a night.

Longwood (4-8) dropped its second straight game on Dec. 23, losing 87-61 to Seton Hall. Senior center Antwan Carter led the Lancers with 20 points and nine rebounds, while senior forward Jan van der Kooij added 19 points.

The Lancers went 12-19 last season competing as a Div. I independent. Longwood, under ninth-year head coach Mike Gillian, returns four starters and 10 letterwinners this season, and the Lancers will again compete as an independent.

Carter leads three Lancers in double figures in scoring, averaging 17.1 points a game to go along with a team-high 9.0 rebounds a night. Senior guard Jeremiah Bowman is second in scoring with 13.3 points per contest, while sophomore guard Tristan Carey is averaging 11.8 points per game.

The Lancers are scoring 74.3 points a game, while giving up 84.3 points per contest.

Since moving to Div. I in 1995, the Pirates have not faced either Tennessee Chattanooga or Utah Valley. The Pirates are 2-1 against Longwood, having won the last two meetings – including a 95-81 defeat in Hampton, Va. on March 1, 2010.

Hampton is 1-5 against teams from the Southern Conference and 2-0 against teams from the Great West Conference.

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.