LOS ANGELES, Ca. (Feb. 13, 2026) … Hampton University men's basketball team fell in heartbreaking fashion Friday night to North Carolina A&T 71-70. 

In a sold out crowd as part of the NBA All-Star weekend, it was Hampton jumping out to a hot start, leading 8-3 at the first media timeout. The Pirates defense was stout early, holding the Aggies to just 1-8 from the floor in the first four minutes of game action. 

The two sides continued to battle over the course of the next eight minutes, with Hampton clinging onto a 19-14 lead at the under eight media timeout. The Pirates defense continued to be the key piece early, holding the Aggies to just 27.8 percent from the field throughout the first 12 minutes of game play. 

At the break, Hampton held a slim 30-26 lead. Xzavier Long led the way for Hampton in the first 20 minutes, scoring eight points while also hauling in four rebounds. Jalyke Gaines-Wyatt added seven points for the Pirates, while dishing out a team high two assists in the first frame. Defense was the major story for both teams early, as Hampton shot just 35.7 percent from the field. 

The Pirates exploded out of the gate to start the second half scoring a quick ten points, capped off by a driving layup from Etienne Strothers. North Carolina A&T made a run to close the game to two at the under 12 media timeout, courtesy of a long three pointer from Trent Middleton Jr. 

Elijah Kennedy broke the Aggie momentum with 9:51 remaining when he drained a corner three from Kody Williams. Kennedy then made a layup two minutes later to extend Hampton's lead to 53-46, forcing the Aggies into a timeout with 7:23 remaining. 

After a quick Aggie response, Gaines-Wyatt responded for the Pirates with an and-one at the horn of the shot clock to give Hampton an eight point lead with five minutes remaining. 

The Aggies cut that lead to two with 3:13 left after a pair of free throws and an and-one from North Carolina A&T. Once again it was the senior leader for Hampton stepping up, with Long drawing a foul on a three point shot making two of the three to extend Hampton's lead to four. After a Strothers block, Long buried two more free throws to give Hampton a 64-58 lead with 2:20 remaining. 

North Carolina A&T made two free throws to bring the game back to four following the Long free throws, but once again the Pirates had an answer. Kennedy broke loose in the Aggie zone draining his second triple of the half to extend Hampton's lead back to seven with 1:52 remaining. The Aggies ramped up their defense over the course of the final minute, causing three turnovers out of the Pirates, and eventually tied the game at 68 with 35.3 remaining. Gaines-Wyatt then got fouled, and drained both free throws with 25 seconds left to give Hampton a 70-68 lead, but it was Middleton Jr. making a driving and-one layup with 4.5 seconds remaining to down the Pirates 71-70.