HAMPTON, Va. (Feb. 17, 2024) … With the game was on the line, it was Hampton that stepped up and put the game away. After letting an 18-point first half slip away and trailing by as many as five midway through the second half, Hampton (6-21, 1-12) mounted a comeback to defeat Towson (16-11, 9-5) before 2,421 fans at the Hampton Convocation Center.

The Pirates trailed throughout much of the second half but retook the lead on Ja'Von Benson's free throw, 53-52, with 9:22 left. The lead seesawed back-and-forth in the game's final minutes before Ford Cooper Jr.'s three-pointer gave the Pirates the lead for good, 62-61, with 1:57 to go. A Benson bucket gave the Pirates some breathing room at 64-61 with 1:05 left and Hampton made its free throws in the final seconds to ensure the 67-61 victory.

Tedrick Wilcox Jr. and Jordan Nesbitt led the way with 19 points each for the Pirates. Charles Thompson was Towson's leading scorer with 17 points and Christian May added 12.

The first half was a game of streaks. Towson scored back-to-back-to-back layups to take a quick lead. But Hampton battled back and took a 10-8 lead on a Wilcox Jr. basket.

Hampton led 20-14 eight minutes into the contest while shooting 64 percent from the field. The Pirates doubled up Towson, 32-16, on a Wilcox dunk as part of a 14-2 Hampton run. The lead grew to 38-20 with 3:32 to go in the half.

But a 10-0 run by the Tigers erased much of Hampton's 18-point lead but the Pirates still led, 41-33, at intermission. Wilcox tallied 15 points in the first half but it was the Pirate defense was the key with six blocked Tiger shots and three steals. Hampton shot a sizzling 57 percent from the field in the first half while holding Towson to 37 percent. Towson made just 2-of-10 three-pointers while Hampton converted six.

A 14-3 run to start the second half boosted Towson to a 47-44 lead following a string of six straight free throws put the Tigers ahead, 45-44, with 15:27 to go.

Hampton stayed close but was unable to take back the lead until a Benson free throw put the Pirates ahead, 53-52, with 9:22 left. Hampton maintained the slim lead until Towson went ahead, 61-59, with 3:01 left. The Pirates regained their composure and scored the game's final eight points to register their first CAA victory of the season.

Towson came into the game having won seven of its last 10 games.

The Pirates return to action on Thursday, Feb. 22 when the Pirates play at Campbell in a 7:00 p.m. contest.