HAMPTON, Va. - The Pirates of Hampton University sit at 0-1 on the season, but they look to change that as they hold their 2008-09 home opener on Thursday, Nov. 20 at 7 p.m. Hampton will play host to defending Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) champion George Mason at the Hampton University Convocation Center.
"It is always exciting when you have your home opener, because it gives the students, alumni, boosters and fans a chance to see their team at home for the first time of the season, and I know the player are excited about the game and so am I," said Pirates head coach Kevin Nickelberry.
The Pirates will come into the game after playing their season opener on the road in New Rochelle, N.Y. against the Gales of Iona College. Hampton lost that game 59-46. The Patriots come in the game riding a two-game winning streak after defeating Vermont in overtime by a score of 80-79 and defeating Brown at home easily, 89-52.
The match-up will be the fifth meeting between the two teams, with George Mason winning the last four meetings in the series. The first meeting came back in 1995, when the Patriots defeated the Pirates by a score of 84-74, and the last meeting coming last season when the Pirates only lost by three points with the final score of 57-54.
The game is set to tip-off at 7 p.m. in the Hampton University Convocation Center. For ticket information contact the Ticket Office at (757) 728-6828. For more information on Hampton University basketball, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official athletics website at
www.hamptonpirates.com.