BALTIMORE, Md. – The Hampton University men's basketball team needed five more minutes than expected, but still remained unbeaten on the road in MEAC play with a 79-76 overtime win over Coppin State Saturday evening at the Physical Education Complex.
 
The Pirates (11-10, 6-2 MEAC) have won three straight games. Four of their six conference wins have come on the road.
 
Sophomore forward Jervon Pressley (Charlotte, N.C.) led four Pirates in double figures with a season-high 16 points, going 5-for-6 from the floor and 6-for-9 from the free throw line in 23 minutes. Senior forward Du'Vaughn Maxwell (Manhattan, N.Y.) and sophomore guard Deron Powers (Williamsburg, Va.) each had 11 points and six rebounds.
 
Powers added seven assists.
 
Sophomore guard Brian Darden (Hampton, Va.) chipped in 10 points.
 
With the score tied at 73-73 after 40 minutes, Coppin State struck first in the extra session, taking a 75-73 lead at the 4:44 mark on a jumper from Michaal Murray. Powers answered with a layup 24 seconds later to tie the game at 75-75, before Maxwell gave the Pirates a 76-75 lead with a free throw with 2:57 left.
 
Murray tied the game at 76-76 with a free throw with 2:08 left, but Coppin State did not score again. Sophomore guard Breon Key (Hampton, Va.) hit two free throws with 1:34 left, and sophomore guard Ke'Ron Brown (Savannah, Ga.) added a free throw with 34 seconds left to put Hampton up 79-76.
 
Coppin State missed all three of its game-tying shots in the closing seconds.
 
The Pirates led 36-31 at the half, but Coppin State fought its way back and controlled much of the second half; in fact, the Eagles led 59-50 with 10:34 left in regulation after a trey from Gary Dallas. Hampton scored the next six points, cutting the lead to 59-56 with 8:33 left after a Maxwell free throw.
 
Daquan Brickhouse gave the Eagles a 65-61 lead with 6:37 left with two free throws, before Pressley slammed home a dunk and hit two free throws to tie the game at 65-65 with 5:40 to go in regulation. Sterling Smith gave Coppin State a 70-66 lead with two free throws with 4:23 left.
 
Hampton answered with a 7-2 run, taking a 73-72 lead on a Powers layup with 1:27 left in regulation. Brickhouse had a chance to give Coppin State the lead at the free throw line with 34 seconds left, but he only hit one of his two shots.
 
Maxwell attempted a trey from the top of the key, but his shot was off the mark. Senior guard Ramon Mercado (Hollywood, Fla.) grabbed the rebound, had a clear look at the basket, but his putback fell off the mark as the horn sounded to force overtime.
 
The Pirates shot 48.2 percent (27-for-56) from the floor and made six of their 21 3-pointers (28.6 percent), and pulled off the win despite being out-rebounded 42-40 and having more turnovers than Coppin State (17 to the Eagles' 15).
 
Coppin State (7-14, 4-4 MEAC) shot 33.3 percent (21-for-63) from the floor – including an ice-cold 1-for-7 (14.3 percent) in overtime.
 
Smith led the Eagles with 24 points.
 
The Pirates will conclude their four-game road swing on Monday at Morgan State at 7 p.m. in a game that will be televised live on ESPNU. 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.