HAMPTON, Va. -- Making his first Hampton University start, Dondre Griffin paced five in double figures with 19 points as Hampton defeated UNC Asheville 83-61 on Saturday afternoon.

Griffin was 7-of-8 from the floor and 5-of-6 from 3-point land for his season high 19 points.  His 5-of-6 performance from 3-point land ties the fourth best single-game percentage in school history with a minimum of five attempts. 

Hampton opened the game on a 14-5 run as a Jermaine Marrow bucket put the hosts up nine at the 14:20 mark.  The Bulldogs trimmed the deficit to 14-10 on a 4-pointer from Cody Jude with 12:21 left.  A big 19-4 run started following that bucket for Hampton as jumpers by Ricquall Smoot and Ben Stanley closed the run and gave Hampton a 33-14 lead with 6:50 remaining in the half.

The first half lead would grow to 26 points twice as an Akim Mitchell layup off a feed from Pierre Sow with 40 seconds left helped give Hampton a 49-25 halftime lead.

In the second half Hampton used a 12-3 spurt to push the lead to its largest on the night at 79-49 on a pair of Lysander Bracey free throws with 5:40 left.

Joining Griffin in double figures were Marrow with a double-double of 16 points and 10 assists, Mitchell with 16 points and five boards, Kalin Fisher with 10 points, seven assists and five steals and Bracey with 10 points.

Hampton hit 29-of-56 from the floor (51.8%) and 12-of-22 from 3-point land (54.5%) to go with a 13-of-17 showing at the foul line (76.5%).

DeVon Baker topped three in double figures for UNC Asheville with 13 points, while Jude and Cress Worthy had 10 points apiece.

Hampton now hits the road to tangle with Presbyterian on Wednesday night

For more information on Hampton University men's basketball, please contact the Office of Sports Information at 757-727-5757 or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com
 
POST-GAME NOTES

• Griffin topped his previous season high of 14 against Regent in December.
• Marrow was one off his career high in assists set last year against Mid-Atlantic Christian
• With his 10 assists, he's now one behind Isaac Jefferson for sixth place on the all-time assists list.
• His 16 points now puts him at 1,510 career points and remains in 12^th place on the all-time list now 46 points behind Rashad West (2004-08) and 72 from Tommy Adams (1998-2002) to get into the top ten.