Game Notes

HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University men's basketball team will play host to the Bulldogs of South Carolina State on Saturday at 6 p.m. at the HU Convocation Center in search of its third straight win and staying alive in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) race.

The Pirates (17-5, 7-2 MEAC), in their second season under head coach Edward Joyner Jr., won their second straight game on Monday by beating Maryland Eastern Shore 78-66 on ESPNU. Junior guard Kwame Morgan II (Largo, Md.) led the Pirates with 30 points on a career-high 8-for-14 shooting from 3-point range, while junior guard Christopher Tolson (Laurel, Md.) added 11 points and senior guard Brandon Tunnell (Wilmington, Del.) scored 10 points and dished out a career-high 12 assists.

South Carolina State (6-15, 2-6 MEAC) snapped a six-game losing streak on Monday with a 90-75 home win over Florida A&M. Junior forward Presano Bell led the Bulldogs with 15 points, while senior guard Carrio Bennett added 11 points. Senior guards Tyvon Williams and Westley Telafare each added 10 points.

Hampton is 16-17 against South Carolina State since moving up to Division I in 1995. The Bulldogs have won the last three meetings, including a 72-60 decision in Orangeburg, S.C. last season. Prior to the SCSU's three-game winning streak against the Pirates, Hampton won three straight over the Bulldogs. SCSU beat Hampton 83-65 in the first meeting of the 1995-96 season, before the Pirates responded later that season with a 71-61 win at the HU Convocation Center. Hampton is 8-6 against the Bulldogs at the HU Convocation Center.

The Bulldogs went 18-14 last season, finishing second in the MEAC with a 10-6 record before falling to Morgan State in the finals of the MEAC Tournament. SCSU returns four starters and six letterwinners from last year's squad, including Preseason Second Team All-MEAC selection senior guard Darnell Porter, and was picked to finish second in the MEAC.

Porter leads the Bulldogs in scoring, averaging 11.4 points per game, while junior guard Brandon Riley is averaging 10.0 points per contest. Junior forward Omar Sanders is the team's leading rebounder, pulling down 6.0 boards per contest.

SCSU is scoring 68.4 points per game, but giving up 74.0 points a night.

The Pirates are 7-1 at the HU Convocation Center so far this season following a 78-66 win over Maryland Eastern Shore on Monday. Hampton has also beaten Georgia State 60-56, before falling to Delaware 55-53, beating Towson 78-67, beating Liberty 62-59, beating Norfolk State 63-56, beating North Carolina A&T 82-77 and beating Delaware State 70-66 (in overtime) at home so far this season. The Pirates went 6-6 at home last season, winning their last three games at the Convocation Center.

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.