Game Notes

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Sitting tied for second in the MEAC, the Hampton University men's basketball team will open its final road trip of the regular season on Saturday, taking on Howard in Burr Gymnasium at 7 p.m.
 
The Pirates (14-11, 9-3 MEAC) further cemented themselves in the thick of the MEAC race this past Saturday with a 79-73 overtime win at MEAC preseason favorite Norfolk State – their first win over the rival Spartans since the 2010-11 season. Hampton has won six of its last seven games.
 
Sophomore guard Dwight Meikle (Baltimore, Md.) came off the bench to lead four Pirates in double figures with 14 points. Senior forward Du'Vaughn Maxwell (Manhattan, N.Y.), as well as sophomore guards Brian Darden (Hampton, Va.) and Deron Powers (Williamsburg, Va.), all added 11 points each, while Maxwell and sophomore forward Jervon Pressley each grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.
 
Hampton held Norfolk State to just one field goal in overtime.
 
Howard (6-20, 4-7 MEAC) has lost three straight games after an 87-74 loss at Maryland Eastern Shore this past Saturday, and the Bison are coming into the weekend ninth in the MEAC. The Bison are in their fourth season under head coach – and former Hampton head coach – Kevin Nickelberry, and Howard was picked to finish 12th in the MEAC this season.
 
Freshman guard James Daniel is leading the team and the conference in scoring, averaging 21.3 points per game, while junior guard/forward Prince Okoroh is averaging 14.8 points and a team-best 5.5 rebounds per contest.
 
Hampton is 32-5 all-time against Howard, and the Pirates have won each of the last eight meetings between the two teams – including a 63-47 win at the HU Convocation Center earlier this season. In fact, Bison head coach Kevin Nickelberry has yet to defeat his former team in seven match-ups. Howard's last win over the Pirates came in the 2009 Big Apple Classic in New York, when Howard won 56-54.
 
The Pirates are 11-2 against Howard on the road since moving up to Div. I in 1995.
 
Hampton is 217-129 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 9-3 in the MEAC this season after beating Norfolk State in overtime this past Saturday.
 
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 26-40 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, falling 94-92 to Morgan State in double overtime on Feb. 3, and beating Norfolk State 79-73 in overtime this past Saturday.
 
The Pirates are 5-1 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.