Game Notes

HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University men's basketball team will look to get back into the win column on Monday, when the Pirates play host to the Tigers of Towson University at the HU Convocation Center at 7 p.m.

The Pirates (7-2), in their second season under head coach Edward Joyner Jr., had their seven-game winning streak snapped following a 55-53 loss to Delaware on Wednesday, Dec. 8. Junior guard Darrion Pellum (Hampton, Va.) led the Pirates with 17 points, while senior forward Charles Funches (Jersey City, N.J.) added 16 points and junior guard Mike Tuitt (Bronx, N.Y.) added 12.

The Tigers (3-5) snapped a two-game skid with an 86-77 win over Maryland Baltimore County on Saturday, Dec. 11. Junior forward Braxton Dupree led five Towson players in double figures with 17 points to go along with 11 rebounds, while sophomore forward Isaiah Philmore added 16 points and junior guard Troy Franklin poured in 15. Junior guard Rashawn Polk scored 11 and guard Brian Morris had 10 points for the Tigers.

Since moving to Division I in 1995, Hampton is 0-2 all-time against Towson. The Tigers beat Hampton 82-74 last season in Towson, Md., after winning the first meeting 82-73 in the 2008-09 season. This will mark the first meeting between the two teams at the HU Convocation Center.

The Pirates, despite having their seven-game winning streak snapped on Dec. 8 by Delaware, are among the nation's best teams on the defensive side of the ball. The Pirates are tied for fourth among all NCAA Division I teams in scoring defense, giving up just 54.0 points a contest, while Hampton is also second in the nation, behind only Florida State, in field goal percentage defense, holding opponents to 33.2 percent shooting on the season. Hampton is also third in the country in 3-point percentage defense, behind New Mexico and Drexel, allowing teams to make just 24.4 percent of shots from behind the arc.

The Tigers were picked to finish 10th in the Colonial Athletic Association this season, coming off a 2009-10 campaign that saw Towson go 10-21 overall with a 6-12 mark in conference play.

Sophomore forward Isaiah Philmore leads four Tigers in double figures in scoring with an average of 15.3 points per game, while junior guard Rashawn Polk is second in scoring at 13.8 points per night. On top of pulling down a team-high 10.1 rebounds per contest, junior forward Braxton Dupree is third in scoring with 13.1 points per game, while junior guard Troy Franklin is averaging 12.6 points per game.

Towson is averaging 74.5 points per game on offense, while giving up 75.9 points a night.

Since moving to Division I in 1995, Hampton is 12-31 against teams currently in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA). The Pirates are 1-3 against Delaware, 2-0 against Georgia State, 1-4 against George Mason, 0-2 against James Madison, 2-4 against Old Dominion, 0-2 against Towson, 1-7 against Virginia Commonwealth and 5-9 against William & Mary. The Pirates defeated Georgia State earlier this season, 60-56 in overtime, before falling 55-53 to Delaware.

Live stats for Monday's game between Hampton and Towson will be available through the Pirates' athletic website at www.hamptonpirates.com. 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.