Box Score

RICHMOND, Va. – The Hampton University men's basketball team shot just 25 percent from the floor, making just 15 of 60 shots, as the Pirates lost 72-51 Thursday night to Richmond in the Robins Center in the opening game of the 2011 Triple Crown Cancun Challenge.
 
Richmond opened the game on a 17-4 run, before the Pirates (1-1) would get into a rhythm and get some shots to fall.     
 
“We didn't shoot the ball well at all tonight, and we are not going win any games if we don't make shots,” said head coach Edward Joyner Jr. “Richmond did a good job of making shots and ours didn't fall, but this is a learning experience for us as a team.
 
“Besides, this is just our second game of the season.”
 
In the first half, the Pirates were led by transfer Jasper Williams, who scored a team-high 10 of Hampton's 26 points in the first half. The Pirates shot just 24 percent from the floor, making just eight of 33 shots taken. Hampton was able to crash the boards and grab 26 rebounds in the first half.
 
The Spiders were by Darien Brothers, who shot 50 percent in the first half, making four of eight shots with three of them coming from behind the 3-point arc.
 
Despite a slow start, Hampton would pull within six points at the half by going on a 12-2 run to make the score 32-26 after being down by as many as 16 points at one point. 
 
Both teams would battle early in the second half, with Hampton getting as close as within four points, with the score 36-32 following a couple of free throws by Darrion Pellum. Richmond would then go on an 8-0 run, which ended when Wesley Dunning got a tip-in at the 14:31 mark.
 
Richmond would then go on a 25-4 run to make the score 69-42. Hampton would battle back and get as close as within 21 points with the score 72-51 in favor of Richmond.
 
Hampton shot just 11 percent from the 3-point arc and 76 percent from the free throw line, while the Spiders shot 40 percent on the night, making 24 of 59 shots. Hampton was led by senior guard Mike Tuitt, who finished the game with 11 points for the Pirates, while Richmond finished the game with four players in double figures – led by Brothers, who finished with a game-high 15 points.
 
The Pirates will be back in action on Sunday, when they travel to Piscataway, N.J. to take on Rutgers in their second game of the Triple Crown Cancan Challenge. Tip-off is set for 12 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.