Game Notes

NORFOLK, Va. – With the regular season winding down, the Hampton University men's basketball team will kick off a three-game road swing on Saturday with a big match-up against rival Norfolk State at 6 p.m. in Echols Hall.
 
Norfolk State is second in the MEAC heading into the weekend, while the Pirates are third.
 
The Pirates (13-11, 8-3 MEAC) overcame cold shooting – on the floor and at the free throw line – in a 71-65 comeback win over Maryland Eastern Shore Monday night at the HU Convocation Center. Senior forward Du'Vaughn Maxwell (Manhattan, N.Y.) recorded his fourth double-double of the season with 17 points and 13 rebounds, while also blocking a team-high five shots and dishing out three assists.
 
Senior guard Ramon Mercado (Hollywood, Fla.) came off the bench to add 13 points, hitting three 3-pointers, while sophomore guard Ke'Ron Brown (Savannah, Ga.) added 11 points.
 
The Spartans (14-10, 8-2 MEAC) have won three of their last four games after a 75-49 home win over Howard on Monday. Norfolk State, the defending MEAC regular-season champion, was picked to repeat this season – its first under interim head coach Robert Jones – and senior guard Pendarvis Williams was named MEAC Preseason Player of the Year.
 
Redshirt-senior guard Malcolm Hawkins is the team's top scorer, averaging 16.7 points per game, while Williams is second on the team with 15.8 points per contest. Senior center Brandon Goode is averaging 11.3 points per game, to go along with a team-best 6.8 rebounds per contest.
 
Hampton is 19-18 against Norfolk State since moving up to Div. I in 1995, though the Spartans have won each of the last four meetings – including a 74-67 win in Echols Hall and a 62-59 win in the HU Convocation Center last season. The Pirates last beat Norfolk State in 2010-11, when Hampton won all three meetings en route to the MEAC Tournament championship.
 
Hampton is 5-11 against Norfolk State in Echols Hall.
 
Hampton is 216-129 all-time as a Div. I program (since 1995) against teams currently in the MEAC, including an 11-5 mark in the conference last season. The Pirates are 8-3 in the MEAC this season after beating Maryland Eastern Shore on Monday.
 
The Pirates went 7-8 on the road last season, and they closed out the regular season by winning their last six road contests. During Edward Joyner Jr.'s career as a head coach, Hampton is 25-40 overall in true road games away from the Convocation Center after beating Saint Peter's 64-59 on Nov. 12, falling 71-68 at Quinnipiac on Nov. 20, falling 81-67 at Missouri State on Nov. 24, falling 69-40 at Virginia on Nov. 26, falling 69-67 at Northern Kentucky on Dec. 18, falling 74-61 at North Carolina Central on Jan. 7, defeating Delaware State 73-60 on Jan. 11, beating Savannah State 80-71 on Jan. 25, beating South Carolina State 67-56 on Jan. 27, beating Coppin State 79-76 in overtime on Feb. 1, and falling 94-92 to Morgan State in double overtime on Feb. 3.
 
The Pirates are 4-1 on the road in conference play so far this season.
 
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.