NEW YORK, N.Y. – The Pirates of Hampton University used a balanced attack to take down the Bison of Howard University 71-53 in the 2011 Big Apple Classic at the newly renovated Madison Square Garden on Sunday night.

“I am very pleased and happy with the way the team played tonight,” said head coach Edward Joyner, Jr. “We played together as a team and kept at it, even when Howard went on their runs early in the first half and to start the second half.”

In a game that was tied six times and had 12 lead changes, the beginning of the game was a back-and-forth affair; there were 10 lead changes in the first half alone. Despite that, Hampton held off the Bison in the first half, taking a 36-23 lead into the intermission.

The Pirates shot 37 percent (10-for-27) from the floor in the first half, but the key for Hampton (4-4, 1-1 MEAC) was shooting 70 percent from the free throw line, making 14 of 20 free throws.

Howard (2-5, 0-1 MEAC) was ready to play in the second half, as they opened the half on an 18-4 run to take a one-point lead with 14:14 to play in the second half when Mike Phillips sank a layup.

Following a timeout by Hampton, the Pirates opened up a 25-2 run when Danny Agbelese (Lanham, Md.) got a tip-in to give Hampton a one-point lead. The Pirates turned that into a 21-point lead, 64-43 with 5:37 left in the game.

Howard cut the lead to 18 by closing the game on a 12-7 run, but could get no closer.

Hampton made 22 of 55 shots (40 percent) from the floor. The Pirates were led by Christopher Tolson (Laurel, Md.), who scored a game-high 15 points. Darrion Pellum (Hampton, Va.) and Agbelese each recorded their first double-doubles of the season; Pellum finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Agbelese ended the night with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Hampton forced 19 turnovers and turned them into 23 points, while also scoring 18 points off the bench, 30 points in the paint and 16 second-chance points.

Phillips and Simuel Frazier led the way for the Bison with 12 points each.

The Pirates will be back at it on Monday, as they remain in New York to take on the Rams of Fordham University at the Rose Hill Gym 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.