HAMPTON, Va. ? The Hampton Pirates fought suffered a dismal shooting performance Saturday night at the Convention Center as they dropped a heart-breaking 68-43 loss to the Golden Flashes of Kent State.

Shots just would not fall for Hampton as they connected on 23.2 percent from the floor and made just 13-of-56 shots.
 
The Pirates were led by freshman Kwame Morgan (Largo, Md.) with 12 points, but it was just not good enough as Hampton dropped to 6-7 on the season. Kent State was led by Tyree Evens, who scored a game-high 21 points as the Golden Flashes improved to 7-6.
 
“We obviously can't get down 15,” Pirates coach Kevin Nickelberry said. “I went back to the upperclassmen this game, and I may have to re-evaluate that. I didn't get any energy again from that group.”
 
The Golden Flashes opened the game on a 14-0 run. Hampton would not get a score until after the 13-minute mark in the contest off a 3-pointer by Vincent Simpson (Philadelphia, Pa.). The Pirates only shot 25.0 percent from the floor, making just 7-of-28 shots. KSU capitalized on the Pirates turnovers as they scored 17 points off the 13 first-half turnovers.

Kent State also shot an impressive 56.0 percent from the floor, making 14-of-35 shots led by Evens with 15 points, which give the Golden Flashes a 35-18 lead going into the half.
 
Kent State extended its lead in the second half going up by as many as 29 points..
 
Morgan led the Pirates with a team-high 12 points, while George DeGroat (Portsmouth, Va.) led Hampton with six boards .
 
Kent State closed out the night with three players in double figures, led by Evans with a game-high 21, followed by Chris Singletary, who had 11 points, and Julian Sullunger with 10 points and six boards for the Golden Flashes in the victory.
 
The Pirates will be off until Jan. 10, when they open Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play on the road against the Wildcats of Bethune-Cookman University. Game time is set for a 6 p.m. tip-off.