Saturday, March 1
Hampton, Va.
6 p.m.
Hampton University
87
vs
72
Norfolk State
West and Simpson combined for 39 points for the Pirates as they record a key MEAC victory over Norfolk State. (Photos by Mark Sutton)
PIRATES MOUNT FURIOUS SECOND HALF RALLY, STORM PAST NSU, 87-72
3.2.08 | Men's Basketball
HAMPTON, Va. - The Hampton University Pirates rallied from deficits of 12 points at halftime and 11 points in the second half to storm past rival Norfolk State University convincingly, 87-72, here at the HU Convocation Center on Saturday.
The Pirates, 16-11 overall and 9-5 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, used a barrage of three-point baskets to erase what had been easy pickings for the visiting Spartans 14-13 overall and 10-4 in the MEAC, who led 42-30 at intermission and 46-35 with 17:53 left in the game. It was at that point that the Vincent Simpson show was unleashed.
“We came out at halftime and told them to remember we couldn’t do anything about the first half,” said HU head coach Kevin Nickelberry. “The first half was a microcosm of our season. I told them that in the second half, we had to come out with confidence.”.
In the second half, the Pirates come out ready to play. Hampton battled back for their 12-point deficit to tie the game up at 46. The Spartans managed to fight their way back into the lead, taking a seven-point led before HU’s Donte’ Harrison made two free throws with 9:36 reminding in the game to give the Pirates the led at 60-59, a lead they would retain for the remainder of the game.
The turning point in the game for the Pirates was at 15:54 in the second half when Norfolk State’s Brandon Monroe got a technical foul that changed the game in favor of the Pirates.
The Pirates were led by Rashad West, who scored a game-high 21 points, and Simpson, who scored 18 points in the second half alone. Harrison and Adrian Woodard rounded out the Pirates in scoring with 14 points each. Norfolk State was led by Joseph Dorsett with 17 points on the night.
“We made shots in the second half and It reminded us of how we were at the beginning of the year,” stated Nickelberry on the Pirates second half play.
The Pirates will now get ready to host the Aggies of North Carolina A&T State University on Monday, February 3, with a tip-off time of 8 p.m.
“When we’re healthy and can stay out of foul trouble, we can play with anybody and are a pretty good team,” said Nickelberry. “It is going to be another tough game. We had some success at their place, but we’re going to have to control the three-point line and keep them out of transition. If we do that, we can have some success.”
For more information on the Pirates, go to www.hamptonpirates.com or contact the HU Office of Sports Information at 757-727-5811.
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