HAMPTON, Va. (Jan. 24, 2024) … After spending two consecutive games on the road, the Pirates return to the Convocation Center to host Charleston. The Cougars last season made the NCAA tournament, but fell to San Diego State in the first round. Thursday night's contest is set to begin at 7:00 PM. This will be the second time in program history that Charleston is making the trip to the Convocation Center.
 
A Look at Your Pirates
 
Hampton is coming off an 85-77 loss to the Hawks of Monmouth. Heading into the final minute of the contest, the Pirates only trailed by four. With Monmouth forcing turnovers and grabbing offensive rebounds, they were able to pull away late. Jordan Nesbitt led Hampton in scoring once more with a team-high 18 points. Sophomore Kyrese Mullen also produced a superb performance with 17 points and 14 rebounds. Mullen through 19 games this season has the eighth most double-doubles in the country (10).
 
Coach Edward Joyner Jr.'s squad in their last five games has started to find its rhythm from beyond the arc. In three of their last five contests, the Pirates have shot 40 percent or better from three. Both Jordan Nesbitt and Jerry Deng have been shooting at a high mark. The St. Louis, Mo. native, is shooting at a team-high 50 percent from three. While Deng is close behind at 47 percent and has ten threes for the Pirates.
 
Hampton by the Numbers

• 16: Ja'Von Benson had a career-high in points against Hofstra
• 27.7: The Pirates are averaging the 34th most bench points per game in the nation
• 6.9: Hampton sits second in the Coastal Athletic Association for steals per contest
• 9.4: The Norfolk, Va. native, Kyrese Mullen, ranks 1st in the CAA for rebounds per game
• 9: In three consecutive games Hampton has made nine or more threes.

 
A Look at the Cougars
 
Charleston enters Thursday's game with a 13-6 overall record and 4-2 in the CAA. While the Cougars have dropped back-to-back conference games, they won their first four. Charleston is coached by Pat Kelsey who enters his third season with the program. Under Kelsey, the Cougars have made the NCAA Tournament after winning over 30 games in his second season. Before arriving at Charleston, Kelsey spent nine seasons at Winthrop. While at Winthrop, Kelsey took the Eagles to three NCAA Tournaments.
 
Similarly to the Pirates, the Cougars have a deep bench that is averaging the eight most bench points in the nation (33.7). Charleston this season has proven to be a threat from three making 9.8 per contest. Coach Kelsey's squad also has attempted the third most threes per game in the country this season. While transfer Bryce Butler is only averaging 8.3 points, he is one of the Cougars' better offensive players shooting 51.8 percent from the field and 39.1 percent from three.
 
Charleston by the Numbers

• 3.9: CJ Fulton has the seventh-best assist-to-turnover ratio in the country
• 149: Reyne Smith sits fourth in the CAA for three-point attempts
• 40.8: The Cougars are averaging the most rebounds in the CAA and rank 19th in the nation
• 79.4: Charleston has the second-best scoring offense in the conference
• 28: CJ Fulton has produced the sixth most steals in the CAA