BOONE, N.C. – The Hampton University men's basketball team wrapped up a five-game road swing to open the 2014-15 season Monday evening with an 82-74 loss to Appalachian State at the Holmes Convocation Center.
 
The Pirates fell to 1-4 on the season.
 
Junior guard Brian Darden (Hampton, Va.) led three Pirates in double figures with 20 points, going 4-for-9 from behind the arc and 8-for-8 from the free throw line. Junior guard Deron Powers (Williamsburg, Va.) added 13 points and five assists.
 
Guard Quinton Chievous (Chicago, Ill.) had 11 points and a team-high seven rebounds.
 
The Pirates shot 39.6 percent (21-for-53) from the floor and made eight of 24 3-pointers (33.3 percent). Hampton was also 24-for-34 (70.6 percent) from the free throw line.
 
The Mountaineers opened the game on a 13-2 run, taking that lead at the 15:52 mark after a dunk from Jacob Lawson. Hampton answered with a 10-4 run of its own, cutting the lead to 17-12 with 10:52 left in the half after a dunk from redshirt junior guard Dwight Meikle (Baltimore, Md.).
 
Appalachian State jumped back out to a 25-15 lead with 8:30 left in the half, before the Pirates scored the next five points to cut the lead to 25-20 after Powers hit a trey at the 7:00 mark.
 
But the Mountaineers extended the lead once again, and Appalachian State took a 43-33 lead with six seconds left in the half after a pair of free throws from Frank Eaves. Powers hit a jumper four seconds later, cutting the Mountaineers' halftime lead to 43-36.
 
The Pirates shot 44.4 percent (12-for-27) in the first half.
 
The Mountaineers opened the second half on an 8-0 run, taking a 51-36 lead with 16:39 left in the second half on a 3-pointer from Chris Burgess. Hampton scored 17 of the next 27 points, cutting the lead to 61-53 with 9:22 to play after a pair of free throws from Powers.
 
Junior forward Jervon Pressley (Charlotte, N.C.) added two free throws at the 8:00 mark to cut the lead to 63-55. Darden added two free throws with 6:57 left to cut Appalachian State's lead to 66-57, before the Mountaineers scored the next four to take a 70-57 lead.
 
Hampton went on a 15-9 run to cut the lead to 79-72 with 26 seconds left, but Burgess hit three of four free throws down the stretch to clinch the win.
 
Appalachian State (2-2) shot 44.2 percent (23-for-52) from the floor and went 5-for-14 (35.7 percent) from behind the arc.
 
Eaves led the Mountaineers with 25 points.
 
The Pirates will have their home opener on Wednesday, when they take on American at 2 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.