HAMPTON, Va. (March 4, 2026) … Hampton and Towson will tangle for the third time this season in the final act. The two meet on Saturday, March 7 at 6 pm at the CAA Air Force Reserve Championships at Carefirst Arena.

The two teams split the first two meetings. The Pirates posted a 63-62 come-from-behind victory over the Tigers on New Year's Eve at the Convocation Center. Towson controlled the tempo in the second meeting, recording an 82-50 win on Jan. 31.

And therein is the lesson: the Pirates will look for a low-scoring, tight defensive affair. An up tempo free-wheeling game would not play to Hampton's strengths.

A key will be Hampton's Michael Eley. Eley missed nine games with a foot injury. But he is Hampton's leading scorer (12.5 ppg) when healthy, he is the focal point of the offense. He scored 43 points at Campbell on Jan. 8. Xzavier Long and Daniel Johnson are offensive threats.

The Game
After closing out the regular-season winning three of its final 11 games, No. 10-seed Hampton (13-18) looks to get back on track when the Pirates face No. 7-seed Towson (17-14, 9-9) in the Air Force Reserve Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) Championships Saturday, March 7 at 6 pm.

The Pirates are already familiar with Carefirst Arena. Hampton got a sneak preview of the facility when the Pirates played Howard on Dec. 13. In addition, Coach Ivan Thomas's squad held a practice session at the facility on Feb. 1, the day following Hampton's game at Towson.

Hampton's leading scorer, Eley (13.0 ppg) missed nine games this season with a nagging foot injury. Always an offensive threat, Eley scored 43 points, most in the CAA this season, at Campbell on Jan. 8. After missing six consecutive games between Jan. 24 and Feb. 21 (including Hampton's 82-50 loss at Towson), Eley has worked to find his shooting eye. He scored 17 vs. Stony Brook and then had eight against Charleston. He followed that up with a 21-point salvo against Northeastern before scoring two at William & Mary.

Jalyke Gaines-Wyatt also missed time with a concussion. He scored 10 points in 28 minutes at William & Mary.

Daniel Johnson (10.0 ppg) and Xavier Long (9.9 ppg) are threats. Long leads the CAA and is 19th in the nation in rebounding with 9.6 rpg. Etienne Strothers is averaging 6.0 ppg but is averaging 11.0 ppg in the last eight games.