Game Notes

HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University men's basketball team will open the 2013-14 at home on Friday night, squaring off against the Tribe of William & Mary at the HU Convocation Center at 7 p.m.

There will be 50/50 raffle at the game, with proceeds going to the FoodBank of the Peninsula. Fans are also encouraged to bring canned goods to the game, which can be placed in the orange bins to donate to the FoodBank.

The Pirates (14-17, 11-5 MEAC in 2012-13) were picked to finish fourth in the MEAC this season in a poll voted on by the league's head coaches and sports information directors. Hampton tallied 456 points and earned a first-place vote.

Hampton is in its fifth season under head coach Edward Joyner Jr., and the Pirates return four starters and eight letterwinners from last year's squad.

Senior forward Du'Vaughn Maxwell (Manhattan, N.Y.) was named to the MEAC Preseason Second Team, coming off a 2012-13 season in which he ranked fourth in the conference in blocked shots and fifth in rebounding. Maxwell averaged 10.4 points and 7.2 rebounds per game last season, recording eight double-doubles, and he averaged 2.5 blocks per contest.

Hampton also returns sophomore guard Deron Powers (Williamsburg, Va.), who was named MEAC Rookie of the Year after last season. He led the Pirates in both scoring (11.9 ppg) and assists (4.6 apg), and he led the MEAC in free throw percentage (.843), while ranking fourth in the conference in assists.

Powers also ranked fifth in the MEAC in assist-turnover ratio (1.3), and he was the conference's top freshman in both scoring and assists. He was also named to the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major All-American Team.

The Tribe, in their 11th season under head coach Tony Shaver, return four starters and 10 letterwinners from a squad that went 13-17 last season and finished eighth in the Colonial Athletic Association with a mark of 7-11. William & Mary was picked to finish fifth in the CAA this season, and the Tribe boast two Preseason All-CAA players: junior guard Marcus Thornton, who was named to the Preseason First Team, and senior forward Tim Rusthoven, who was named to the Preseason Second Team.

Thornton is the team's top returning scorer, coming off a 2012-13 campaign where he averaged 18.8 points per game, while Rusthoven averaged 14.4 points and a team-best 7.0 rebounds per game last season.

The Tribe also return senior guard Brandon Britt, who averaged 13.9 points per game last season.

The Pirates are 6-10 against William & Mary since 1995, and the teams are 2-2 over the last four match-ups. The Tribe defeated Hampton 69-51 last season in Williamsburg, but the Pirates took the last meeting in the HU Convocation Center, opening the 2011-12 season with a 73-58 win.

Hampton is 3-4 all-time against William & Mary at home.

Hampton is 9-21 against teams currently in the CAA since joining the Div. I ranks in 1995. The Pirates are 0-1 against the College of Charleston; 1-4 against Delaware; 1-3 against James Madison; 1-2 against Towson; 0-1 against UNC Wilmington; and 6-10 against William & Mary.

The Pirates have never faced Drexel, Hofstra, or Northeastern.

The Pirates went 7-8 at the HU Convocation Center last season, even though they won three of their last five home contests. During Joyner's career as a head coach, Hampton is 27-22 overall in 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.