Box Score

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Darrion Pellum scored 16 points in the second half and led the way as the Pirates of Hampton University defeated the George Washington 62-51 in the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off consolation round at the Charles E. Smith Center on Tuesday.

 

The Pirates improved to 4-1 on the season with their fourth straight win, while George Washington dropped to 2-2 on the year.

 

The Pirates used a 23-8 run in the second half to take a 10-point lead to ensure the win over the Colonials. In the second half, Hampton scored 39 points and shot 54 percent from the floor, making 12-of-22 shots taken.

 

“Basketball is a game of runs, and I didn't know we would go on a run like that,” Pirates head coach Ed Joyner said, “but I will take that any night to go on a 23-8 run in a half, but our defense make that possible.”

 

Hampton's defense held the Colonials to just 29 percent shooting, making just 10-of-24 shots taken, and going just 3-for-13 from behind the arc. The Pirates were also impressive from the free throw line in the second half, making 11-of-14.

 

The two teams would go back and forth with the score in the second half, until George Washington took a six-point lead with 13:47 left with the score 34-28. Hampton's Kwame Morgan hit a 3-pointer at the 12:03 mark to pull the Pirates within three points with the score 34-31.

 

Hampton would go on a 15-8 run to take the lead at 43-41 with 6:16 left in the game and they would never look back. Following that run, the Pirates went on an 11-0 run to take a 13-point lead.

 

“We came out in the second half and played great defense and got after the ball,” said Joyner.

 

In the first half, Hampton made just 10-of-27 shots taken, but they also held the Colonials to 28 percent shooting to go into the half down 24-23.

 

The Pirates finished the night with 44 percent shooting, making 22-of-49 shots as they were led by Pellum, who finished the game with 18 points and aided by Morgan, who recorded his first double-double of the season with 14 points and a career-high-tying 10 rebounds. Charles Funches and Brandon Tunnell chipped in eight points each.

 

Funches also grabbed 10 rebounds for the Pirates to tie his career high.

 

The Pirates will travel to High Point, N.C. on Sunday to take on the Panthers of High Point University at 3 p.m. For more information on Hampton University basketball, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.