Pirates' 2nd Half Surge Too Much for Norfolk State

Hampton 86, Norfolk State 72

NORFOLK, Va. - Darrion Pellum scored a game-high 26 points, and Hampton rode a strong second-half performance to an 86-72 win over Norfolk State on Saturday before a sellout crowd of 6,191 fans at Echols Hall.

The first-place Pirates (19-5, 9-2 MEAC) shot 54-percent from the floor in the second half, 75-percent from 3-point range, in outscoring the Spartans 55-40 after the intermission.

Junior Kyle O'Quinn recorded his 12th double-double of the season and fourth in a row with team highs of 17 points and 11 rebounds. He also blocked four shots.

There were three ties and four lead-changes in the first half, and neither team led by more than six points. Despite committing nine first-half turnovers and having three players saddled with two fouls apiece, the Spartans went into the half with a 32-31 lead. Aleek Pauline had eight points and hit all three of his field goals in the half, and Tim Zephyr added seven points in the opening stanza while the Spartan defense held Hampton to 34 percent shooting (12-of-35).

Hampton opened the second stanza on a 6-1 run, sparked by a Pellum 3-pointer and a driving layup by Brandon Tunnell, to take a 37-32 lead, its largest of the game to that point. The Pirates stretched the lead to eight, 45-37, on Kwame Morgan's 3-pointer with 14:35 remaining in the game.

NSU crept within four after two Brandon Wheeless free throws with 10:37 remaining, but Hampton responded with the next four points, capped by another Morgan trey, to take a 54-45 advantage. The Pirates, who made six of their seven 3-pointers in the second half, led by at least six points the rest of the way.

Morgan added 19 points and Tunnell had 15 for the Pirates.

Pauline contributed 15 points and six assists for the Spartans. Pendarvis Williams added 10 points.

For the complete story, visit www.nsuspartans.com or www.hamptonpirates.com

Late Run Keys Eagle Victory Over South Carolina State

Coppin State 70. South Carolina State 62

ORANGEBURG, S.C. - Tony Gallo scored 15 points, including the go-ahead three-pointer with 1:26 to play, leading Coppin State to a 70-62 MEAC victory over South Carolina State on Saturday in the Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center.

 Darnell Porter gave South Carolina State a 60-58 lead with 3:15 to play when he scored on a put back, but Gallo put Coppin State back in front to stay with a three-pointer that ignited a 10-0 Eagle run.

Michael Harper followed with a 3-pointer and Vince Goldsberry and Akeem Ellis each made a pair of free throws giving Coppin State a 68-60 lead with 12 seconds to play.

The late run helped the Eagles overcome a five-point halftime deficit and propelled them to their sixth win in their last eight games. Coppin State improved to 12-11 overall and 7-4 in the MEAC.

Ellis led Coppin State with 17 points, while Goldsberry had 12 points and Ceslovas Kucinskas added 10 points. Antonio Williams had 12 rebounds for the Eagles.

South Carolina State (6-18, 2-9 MEAC) was led by Porter who scored 16 points and collected eight rebounds. Brandon Riley added 11 points for the Bulldogs.

For the complete story, visit www.coppinstatesports.com or www.scsuathletics.com

North Carolina A&T Bench The Difference in Win Over Howard

North Carolina A&T 68, Howard 49

Greensboro, NC-February 12---Kyle Riley scored a team-high 14 points and Anton Dickerson added all of 13 in the second half, but it was not enough to overcome the production of the North Carolina A&T bench, which accounted for 24 points as Howard fell, 68-49 to the Aggies in a MEAC men's game at Corbett Sports Center.

The Bison (5-19 overall, 3-8 in the MEAC) were able to stay within striking distance through most of the first half.  Riley and Mike Phillips combined for 18 of their team's points, but the team was unable to match the scoring of Thomas Coleman, who led all scorers with 11 points on 5 of 6 shooting from the field and seven rebounds.

North Carolina A&T (11-14 overall, 6-5 in the MEAC)  shot 51 percent from the floor, held a whopping 44-14 advantage in the paint, and outscored the Bison bench, 24-2.  Four of the five Howard starters played more than 34 minutes.  The Aggies, meanwhile, played 12 players.

Phillips contributed 11 points and six rebounds in a losing cause while Dadrian Collins tallied nine.

Coleman finished with a double-double of 19 points and 12 rebounds, Adrian Powell added 12 and Upchurch chipped in with 10 points and seven rebounds off the bench.

For the complete story, visit www.howard-bison.com or www.ncataggies.com

Longwood Defeats Savannah State

Longwood 75, Savannah State 56

SAVANNAH, Ga.- Jovinni Shuler had 26 points and 10 rebounds but it would not be enough as Savannah State dropped a 75-56 game to Longwood in Tiger Arena.

Stephen Wilson came off the bench to score 10 points for SSU.

The Tigers scored the first six points of the contest and led 11-4 with 14:54 remaining.

Longwood rallied to tie the game at 11 but SSU answered as Shuler made back to back 3-pointers as well as two free throws to put Savannah State ahead 19-11 with 8:20 remaining.

The Lancers tied the game at 19 and then added six unanswered points for a 14-0 run to go ahead 25-19 with 3:50 on the clock.

SSU got within 25-22 but Longwood closed the half by scoring the final six points and took a 31-22 lead into intermission.

Martiz Washington's 3-pointer to start the second period to increase Longwood's lead to 12 points.

A 3-pointer by Shuler cut SSU's deficit to nine but a 15-7 run by Longwood gave the visitors a 49-32 lead with 13:12 left.

Longwood led by 19 with just over eight minutes remaining and Savannah State could get no closer than 15 the rest of the way.

The Lancers (9-19) out-rebounded SSU 43 to 36 and out-shot the Tigers 46.7 percent to 35.2 percent.

Aaron Mitchell led four Longwood players with 24 points and eight points.

For the complete story, visit www.ssuathletics.com

Defense Does It For Bethune-Cookman Over Delaware State,  61-48

Bethune-Cookman 61, Delaware State 48

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Knockout artists, these Wildcats aren't. But Bethune-Cookman was definitely a defensive stalwart in Saturday's 61-48 MEAC victory over Delaware State in the spacious Ocean Center.

Delaware State's 48 points were the lowest for a Wildcat opponent this season as B-CU held the Hornets to ten field goals in the final 31 minutes after DSU stormed out to an early 20-11 lead.

The Wildcats (14-11 overall, 8-3 MEAC) also made the most of their height for a commanding 42-27 rebounding advantage, also a season-best.

CJ Reed led all scorers with 17, and Garrius Holloman overcame foul trouble to score 12, but the night belonged as much to Javoris Bryant and Albert Abrahams.

DSU (9-14,5-6) hit six of its first eight shots, including a trio of 3-pointers in an impressive opening flurry. Then B-CU held the Hornets to two free throws the rest of the opening half and to no three-pointers the rest of the way.

Marques Oliver was the lone Hornet in double figures with 12.

For the complete story, visit www.bcuathletics.com  or www.dsuhornets.com

Florida A&M Clips UMES, 63-55

Florida A&M 63, Maryland Eastern Shore 55

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Feb. 12) - Florida A&M made 13 free throws in the last two minutes of the game as they pulled out a 63-55 win over Maryland Eastern Shore, Saturday night at the Alfred Lawson Center.

FAMU (10-14, 5-6 MEAC) was paced by Larry Jackson as he scored a game high 18 points and nine rebounds.  Avery Moore finished with 17 points as he went 5-of- 10 from behind  the 3-point line, followed by Brandon Hosley with 11.  Yannick Crowder led the Rattlers on the boards with a team high 10 rebounds.

UMES (6-18. 3-8 MEAC) was led by Kevin White with a team high 13 points followed by Lyvann Obame Obame with 10.  Tyler Hines led the Hawks in rebounding with a game high 15 boards.

For the complete story, visit www.famurattlersports.com or www.umeshawks.com