Joyner returns home to realize dream, coaches Hampton Pirates to NCAA tournament

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — They'll have a few more stories and another piece of hardware to talk about at the next Joyner family reunion, courtesy of what just occurred at the last one.

The Joyner basketball coaching tree — Edward "Buck" Joyner Sr., Stephen Joyner and his son, Little Steve — as well as assorted grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins ventured across town Saturday afternoon to Joel Coliseum to watch Ed Joyner Jr. realize a lifelong dream.

The man known to family members as "Little Buck" coaxed and encouraged and orchestrated Hampton University's men to their first MEAC tournament title since 2006.

Hampton Holds Back Morgan, Captures MEAC Title, 60-55

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- The great shooting that Morgan State displayed in the past two MEAC tournament games came to a screeching halt in the second half. Hampton got some timely baskets from Darrion Pellum to help the Pirates beat the Bears 60-55 in the MEAC Tournament Championship game at the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

The fact that MSU center Kevin Thompson got into foul trouble was a huge factor in how the game went. Morgan State head coach Todd Bozeman said about the situation, “We need him on the floor, that's obvious. He fought hard in there, it's hard when you're at the disadvantage.”

“It was a war,” Hampton head coach Ed Joyner said. “It was what we expected, it's the one we wanted to win.”

PIRATES DEFEAT MORGAN STATE TO CLAIM 2011 MEAC BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT TITLE

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Brandon Tunnell scored 12 of his career-high 20 points in the second half and Darrion Pellum added all 12 of his after intermission to help Hampton defeat Morgan State, 60-55 in the MEAC Tournament Championship at the Joel Coliseum.

“It was a war,” Hampton head coach Ed Joyner said. “It was what we expected; it’s the one we wanted to win.”

The Pirates (24-8) denied the Bears their fourth consecutive tournament title and Joyner obtained his first ever as a head coach. The win also secured Hampton an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Hampton will learn when and where they will compete in the NCAA tournament once the pairings are announced on Sunday.

READ MORE, CLICK EACH TITLE.