Hampton University
St. Bonaventure
HU offense thrives as Pirates down St. Bonaventure
12.20.06 | Men's Basketball
St. Bonaventure, N.Y. – Rashad West scored a career-high 28 points, freshman Matt Pilgrim added 18 points and eight rebounds in just his second game, and the Pirates shot a season-high 58% from the field as Hampton recorded its first road victory of the year with an 89-74 win over Atlantic 10 opponent St. Bonaventure. The Pirates turned the ball over a season-low 15 times, sending the Bonnies (3-8) to their sixth straight defeat while Hampton snapped a two-game skid of its own.
The first half was an offensive showcase as both teams combined for 11 three-pointers and 80 points with the Pirates shooting 55% from the field, including a 6-of-11 effort from deep, on their way to a season-best 43 points. The freshman duo of Mike Freeman and Matt Pilgrim helped Hampton jump out to an early lead with eight points apiece, but the Bonnies made a run of their own when Freeman left the game with a foot injury. St. Bonaventure sharp-shooter Zarryon Fereti did the damage from the perimeter knocking down three shots from behind the arc on his way to 13 first half points. And when the ball wasn’t in his hands Michael Lee went to work inside with six early baskets. Hampton stretched its lead to as many as nine before the Bonnies cut the deficit to six, 43-37, at the break.
Adrian Woodard’s three-point play put the Pirates ahead 52-42 three minutes into the second half, but the Bonnies fought their way back to within three (61-58) on a basket by Lee with 10 minutes to play. Hampton quickly answered the challenge and increased its lead back to double digits behind some clutch shooting from West and Woodard. West was 4-of-7 from the field and a perfect 7-of-7 from the free throw line in the second half and Woodard pitched in with eight of his nine points and seven rebounds. Pilgrim showed his versatility as well, knocking down a three-pointer of his own to end a St. Bonaventure run.
Hampton dominated on the boards winning the rebounding battle 44-22 with six players registering at least five boards, led by Pilgrim’s eight.
Michael Lee’s 24 points led St. Bonaventure, while Fereti and Paul Williams chipped in with 15 and 14 points respectively.
