Game Notes

NORFOLK, Va. – The Hampton University men's basketball team will look to get back into the win column on Saturday against rival Norfolk State, taking to the hardwood at 6 p.m. in Echols Hall.

The Pirates (5-12, 2-2 MEAC), in their fourth season under head coach Edward Joyner Jr., fell 67-65 in overtime to Coppin State on Monday, despite a career-high 24 points from junior guard Ramon Mercado (Hollywood, FL.).

Sophomore center Emmanuel Okoroba (Garland, Texas)  with 14 points and 13 rebounds, and junior guard/forward Du'Vaughn Maxwell (Manhattan, N.Y.)  with 15 points and 11 rebounds, each had a double-double.

The Spartans (11-10, 6-0 MEAC) beat Morgan State 73-71 on Monday, thanks to 20 points from junior guard Pendarvis Williams and 18 points and five rebounds from junior center Brandon Goodes. Four Spartans scored in double figures.

The Spartans went 26-10 last season, finishing second in the MEAC at 13-3 and taking the MEAC tournament title for the first time in program history, before upsetting No. 2 seed Missouri in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Norfolk State, in its sixth season under head coach Anthony Evans, returns just one starter from last season. The Spartans were picked to finish fourth in the MEAC in 2012-13.

Williams leads three Spartans in double figures, averaging 13.1 points per game, while redshirt-junior guard Malcolm Hawkins is averaging 12.0 points per contest and senior forward Rob Johnson is pouring in 10.2 points a night. Freshman forward Rashid Gaston is the team's top rebounder with 6.3 boards a contest.

The Spartans are averaging 65.7 points a game on offense, while giving up 68.0 points a night.

Since moving up to the Div. I level in 1995, the Pirates are 19-16 against Norfolk State, though the Spartans won both of last season's meetings en route to their first conference title at the Div. I level. Hampton has won four of the last six meetings overall, though, and the Pirates are 5-10 against the rival Spartans on the road.

Hampton is 201-121 all-time as a Div. I program (since 1995) against teams currently in the MEAC, including a 6-10 mark in the conference last season. So far this season, Hampton is 2-2 in MEAC play, with both wins coming against rival Howard. The Pirates have faced every team currently in the MEAC at least once, including newcomers North Carolina Central and Savannah State.

Since joining the MEAC in 1995, the Pirates have won two regular-season conference titles (2000-01, 2001-02) and four MEAC Tournament crowns (2001, 2002, 2006, 2011).

For his career as a head coach, Joyner is 24-17 at home, and the Pirates were 6-5 at home last season – beating William & Mary, High Point, Howard, South Carolina State, Morgan State and Maryland Eastern Shore, while losing to Savannah State, Norfolk State, Coppin State, Delaware State, and North Carolina Central.

Hampton defeated Howard 58-50 in its 2012-13 home debut, before falling 66-54 to Robert Morris on Dec. 8, beating American 72-65 on Dec. 18, falling 54-52 to Northern Kentucky on Dec. 20, beating James Madison 69-65 on Jan. 7, beating Quinnipiac 70-64 on Jan. 14, falling 80-78 to Morgan State on Saturday, and falling 67-65 in overtime to Coppin State on Monday for a 4-4 home mark.

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.