HAMPTON, Va. (Nov. 4, 2024) … At his introductory press conference on March 15 new Hampton men's basketball coach Ivan Thomas promised his team would play hard, hustle for 40 minutes, dive for loose balls, and play pressure defense.
All of those traits were on display as Hampton (1-0) thumped Mid-Atlantic Christian (0-2) 110-53 in the season-opener for the Pirates. With a starting line-up that included four new players from a year ago, the Pirates scored the game's first five points and led by 14, 30-16, with 7:43 left before halftime. The quick start was aided by Noah Farrakhan who tallied 11 points and Wayne Bristol Jr. who added seven.
Hampton held a comfortable 49-32 lead at intermission. Twelve players saw action for the Pirates in the first half with eight scoring points. Farrakhan led Hampton with 11 points followed by George Beale Jr., who tallied 10. The Pirates outrebounded Mid-Atlantic Christian in the first half, 24-15, and forced 11 turnovers to Hampton's three.
Hampton made six of its first seven shots in the second half to expand the lead to 23, 63-40, following a lay-up by Xzavier Long on an assist from Tyler Rice. Big man Tyrese Mullin swished a three-pointer to make the score 68-40 with 7:03 left in the contest.
The Hampton lead continued to grow. The lead was 31 after a stick back by Daniel Johnson with 11:11 to go. A basket and then a three-pointer by Johnson increased the lead to 41, 87-46 with 7:24 to go. Following a Mustang three-pointer, Hampton had an 8-0 run to make the score 95-49 with 4:06 left.
The Pirates reached the 100-point plateau with a steal and jam by Etienne Strothers with 2:56 to go making the score 101-49. Hampton scored 14 consecutive points before being called for goal tending ending the streak.
The Pirates outscored Mid-Atlantic Christian 61-21 in the second half leading to the 110-53 victory. Six Hampton players scored double figures including Johnson (19), Beale Jr. (15), Mullen (14), Farrakhan (13), Wayne Bristol Jr. (12), and Trevor Smith (11). Hampton outrebounded the Mustangs 47-23 and forced 25 turnovers while committing just five.
Hampton returns to action when the Pirates take on George Washington on Nov. 8 at 7:00 p.m. in Washington, D.C.