HAMPTON, Va. (Dec. 3, 2025) … Hampton (5-5) won its third straight game and played its most complete game of the season by overpowering Loyola (Md.) (4-6) 93-71 at the Convocation Center. The Pirates scored the game's first five points, led by 19 at the half and cruised to a 22-point victory. The Pirates are 3-0 at home this season, averaging 96.7 points per game in those games.

"This was our most complete game of the season," Coach Ivan Thomas said. "We took good shots and played tough defense. It was a team victory with everyone contributing. Our bench really picked us up."

It looked like the game might turn into a battle between Hampton's Michael Eley and the entire Loyola team. Eley scored Hampton's first seven points matching the total by the Greyhounds. The Pirates then scored the game's next nine points to take a 16-7 lead on a Xzavier Long dunk.

A trey by Elijah Kennedy midway through the first half lifted the Pirates at a 21-11 lead while Hampton's tenacious defense held Loyola to 4-of-27 shooting from the field. The lead grew to 15 when Jalyke Gaines-Wyatt canned a long three-pointer. A steal and lay-up by Etienne Strothers increased the margin to 18, 37-22.

Despite the Greyhounds employing a pressure defense for most of the first half, Hampton shot a sizzling 57.1 percent from the field with six three-pointers. Behind Eley's play, the Pirates led by 19, 47-26, at intermission. Eley led all scorers with 12 points by halftime. Hampton turned 11 Loyola turnovers into 21 points and the Pirate bench outscored the Greyhounds 23-3.

Eley started the second half off much the way he began the first. He made an off-balance lay-up and was fouled in the process. His free throw increased the Pirate lead to 49-27. Leading 55-36, Hampton went on a 9-0 run to lead 64-36, its biggest lead of the game, with 14:45 to go. But a 13-3 run by Loyola narrowed the margin to 67-49 with 11:01 left.

The Greyhounds were not able to cut the deficit any further. Hampton shot 59.1 percent from the floor in the final stanza and converted 17 free throws to keep Loyola at bay.

It was a whistle-filled game. The two teams combined to take 69 free throws in the 40-minute contest. In addition, there were 49 personal fouls and four major fouls assessed. The Pirates converted 25-of-36 free throws led by Jalyke Gaines-Wyatt, who was 11-of-15 from the line.

Eley scored a career-high 19 points and Gaines-Wyatt tallied a game-high 23 points. In all, 11 Pirates scored in the game. The Greyhounds were led Jordan Stiemke with 16 points.

The win marked the 251st victory for the Pirates at the Convocation Center which opened in 1993. Hampton has a seven-game winning streak at the Convocation Center dating back to last season.

Dr. Iris Good-Middleton served as honorary coach for the Pirates. She is director of Liberal Studies and Student Theater at Hampton. A New York native, she earned degrees from York University, Regent University and her Ph.D. Liberty University. Her daughter, Solray is a member of Ebony Fire, Hampton's dance team.

After playing two games in three days, Hampton takes a 10-day break for final exams. The Pirates return to the hardwood on Dec. 13 to take on Howard in Washington, D.C. in the Battle of the Real HU.