Final Stats

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Sophomore Darrion Pellum scored a team-high 21 points, while freshman Mike Tuitt had 15 points and 10 assists in his debut as a Pirate, but it was not enough as the Hampton University men's basketball team came up just a little bit short in a 83-80 loss to LaSalle in their season opener on Saturday at Tom Gola Arena.

 

The Pirates were down by as many as 14 points late in the second half and LaSalle led 77-67 with 34 seconds left to play, but Hampton (0-1) would hit three deep 3-pointers in the final 22 seconds to get the final score. The Explorers' Rodney Green made two key free throws for LaSalle with five seconds left, which proved to be the cushion for the Explorers when Philadelphia native and Pirates senior Vincent Simpson made his fifth 3-pointer at the buzzer.  

 

In the first half Hampton shot just 36.4 percent from the floor, making just 12-of-33 shots from the floor and just 3-of-13 shots from beyond the arc to head into the half down by four points. Hampton was led by Simpson, who scored 11 points in the frame.

 

The Pirates got off to a slower start in the second half, but would go on to score 29 points on 19-of-35 shooting to shoot 54.3 percent from the floor in the second half alone. Pellum led the way with 17 points in the second half.

 

Hampton finished the night making 31-of-68 shots from the floor to shoot 45.6 percent from the floor. The Pirates scored 34 points in the paint, 21 points off of 19 LaSalle turnovers and they scored 20 points off the bench.

 

Hampton finished the game with four players in double figures, led by Pellum with 21 points. Simpson had 18, Mike Freeman chipped in 16 and Tuitt finished with 15 points.

 

The Pirates will be back in action on Tuesday at 7 p.m., as they will hold their home opener against Iona College at the HU Convocation Center. 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.