Box Score

Norfolk, Va. – Rashad West scored a game-high 20 points for Hampton, but he couldn’t get a potential game-tying shot off in the final 6.1 seconds as the Pirates lost their fifth consecutive game and their Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) opener, 74-72, to local rival Norfolk State. The loss was the fifth straight at Echols Hall for the Pirates and their fifth defeat in the last seven meetings against the Spartans.

Hampton (1-6, 0-1 MEAC) trailed by as many as 11 in the second half thanks to the fifth three-pointer by Norfolk State’s Tony Murphy (15 points) just prior to the first media timeout.

However, the Pirates clawed their way back into the game with pressure defense and the offensive production of freshman Michael Freeman (16 points, 5 rebounds) and Demario Mattox (15 points). The duo combined for 22 of Hampton’s 37 points in the second half, 14 coming by way of Freeman who made a living in the paint going 5-of-7 from the field.

The Spartans (1-3, 1-0 MEAC) kept Hampton in the game by shooting just 12-of-28 (.429) from the free throw line, but a pair of foul shots by Rashid Cann with 23 seconds to play put Norfolk State ahead 74-70.

West answered with a running shot off the glass with 11.7 seconds remaining and freshman Vincent Simpson stole the Spartans’ inbounds pass, but missed a floating layup that went out of bounds off of Norfolk State.

Hampton coach Kevin Nickelberry put the ball into the hands of his best player on the night, but the Spartans ran a double team at West who lost the ball and couldn’t get a shot off before the horn sounded.

Murphy’s 15 points led the Spartans who picked up their first win of the season, but he was also aided by 14 points off the bench from Tynell Dunkley and 10 from Brandon Plummer.

The Pirates return to action on Thursday when they host he University of North Carolina – Greensboro.