WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – The Hampton University men's basketball team will open the 2012-13 season on the road on Friday, taking on William & Mary at the Kaplan Arena at 7:30 p.m.

The Pirates (12-21, 6-10 MEAC in 2011-12), in their fourth season under head coach Edward Joyner Jr., were picked to finish fifth in the MEAC this season. Hampton returns one starter and seven letterwinners from last season, while also welcoming nine newcomers – including two transfers – into the fold.

The Tribe (6-26, 4-14 CAA in 2011-12) come into their 10th season under head coach Tony Shaver. William & Mary was picked to finish ninth in the CAA this season, and the Tribe return three starters and 11 letterwinners from last season. Three newcomers are also on the Tribe's roster for 2012-13.

Sophomore Marcus Thornton is William & Mary's top returning scorer, having averaged 11.1 points per game last season, while junior Tim Rusthoven averaged 10.3 points and 6.6 rebounds per contest last season, making him the team's top returning rebounder.

The Tribe averaged 60.3 points a game on offense, while giving up 69.4 points a contest last season. They were also out-rebounded by an average of 3.9 boards a night.

The Pirates are 6-9 all-time against William & Mary. The Tribe have won four of the last six meetings – even though Hampton beat William & Mary 73-58 in the HU Convocation Center to open last season. Prior to last season's win, Hampton had last defeated the Tribe on Dec. 29, 2007, winning 70-63 at the HU Convocation Center.

The two teams first met on Dec. 20, 1995, with the Pirates escaping Kaplan Arena with an 84-76 win. William & Mary then won four straight in the series, before Hampton won back-to-back games in 2000 and 2001.

Hampton is 14-32 all-time against teams currently in the CAA – including 1-1 mark last season, when the Pirates defeated William & Mary 73-58 and fell to Delaware 68-64 in the ESPN BracketBusters game. Hampton is 1-4 against Delaware; 2-0 against Georgia State; 1-4 against George Mason; 0-2 against James Madison; 2-4 against Old Dominion; 1-2 against Towson; 1-7 against Virginia Commonwealth; and 6-9 against William & Mary.

The Pirates went 1-13 on the road last season, with that lone win coming at Florida A&M, 74-59, on Feb. 25. For his career, Joyner is 15-26 on the road. In 2010-11, when the Pirates won the MEAC Tournament championship, Hampton was 8-5 in true road contests.

The Pirates were a defensive presence last season, leading the MEAC in field goal percentage defense in holding opponents to just 39.5 percent shooting. The Pirates, thanks mostly to the work of center David Bruce (Linden, N.J.) and former Pirate Danny Agbelese, were also second in the conference in blocked shots and third in defensive rebounds.

Hampton was also fifth in the MEAC in scoring defense, holding opponents to just 66.8 points a game. This continues a trend for the Pirates, who finished 2010-11 fourth in the nation in field goal percentage defense (.384) and 10th in blocked shots (5.6 per game).

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.