Big Second Half Lifts Hampton Pirates Over Morgan State

HAMPTON, Virginia –  Despite leading by just one at the half Monday night at the HU Convocation Center, the Hampton University men's basketball team ran past Morgan State 87-79 in front of a national ESPNU audience.

The Pirates improved to 15-9 overall and 10-2 in MEAC play.

Reginald Johnson, Jr. and Quinton Chievous each had 20 points to lead the Pirates; Johnson also dished out a career-high eight assists, while Chievous grabbed 10 rebounds for his ninth double-double of the season.

Jervon Pressley came off the bench to record his third double-double of the season, scoring 15 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. He also had both of the Pirates' blocks.

The Pirates shot 29-for-63 (46.0 percent) from the floor and hit six of their 18 3-pointers. Hampton was also 71.9 percent (23-for-32) from the free throw line, and the Pirates outrebounded Morgan State 45-36.

The first half saw seven ties and seven lead changes, and Morgan State held a 41-37 lead with 1:32 left in the half following a pair of free throws from Andre Horne. But the Pirates closed the half on a 7-1 run, taking a 44-43 lead with four seconds left after Johnson hit a pair of free throws.

The Pirates shot 50.0 percent (15-for-30) from the floor in the first half.

Johnson had 12 points at the break, while Chievous had 10.

That 7-1 run bled into the second half, growing into a 19-8 run when Chievous threw down a slam at the 15:05 mark to put the Pirates up 56-49. After Rasean Simpson ended that run with a layup, Hampton scored the next eight points – going up 64-51 after another Chievous dunk with 12:01 left.

A Dionte Adams jumper with 5:35 left put Hampton up 75-62, Morgan State scored the next six points to cut the lead to 75-68 after a pair of Simpson free throws with 3:19 to play.

Simpson hit two more free throws with 1:17 left to cut the lead to 80-75.

The Pirates answered with a pair of Akim Mitchell free throws and a Pressley dunk, going up 84-75 with 53 seconds remaining. The closest the Bears could get from that point was within six.

Morgan State (5-19, 3-8 MEAC) shot 40.0 percent (28-for-70) from the floor – going just 13-for-36 (36.1 percent) in the second half – and going 5-for-19 (26.3 percent) from distance.

Simpson and Phillip Carr each had 21 points for the Bears.

The Pirates will be in Dover, Del. on Monday, Feb. 22 to take on Delaware State. 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.

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