Box Score

HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University men's basketball team had to withstand a late run, but held on Saturday night to defeat Coppin State 69-67 at the HU Convocation Center to pick up its first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) win of the season.

After Hampton (4-10, 1-1 MEAC) went on a 12-4 run to take a 66-57 lead on a Christopher Tolson (Laurel, Md.) free throw with 3:27 to play, Coppin State responded with a 10-3 run of its own. The run culminated in a stick-back dunk by Branden Doughty with 27 seconds left that tied the game at 67-67, but Tolson responded mere seconds later with a layup that proved to be the difference.

Coppin State (5-8, 0-2 MEAC) took a 42-39 lead coming out of the half with a 7-2 run, but the Pirates responded with a pair of baskets, taking a 43-42 lead with 15:42 to play when Vincent Simpson (Philadelphia, Pa.) hit a jumper. The lead would then changes hands a couple times before Hampton took control midway through the second half.

Simpson led four Pirates in double figures with 19 points on 8-for-15 shooting, while Michael Freeman (Alexandria, Va.) added 15 points and a team-high 10 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season. Charles Funches (Bayonne, N.J.) also recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Darrion Pellum (Hampton, Va.) chipped in 10 points.

Sam Coleman led five Eagles in double figures, scoring 14 points to go along with a team-high give rebounds. Lenny Young and Eddie Hayden each added 13 points, while Doughty scored 12 and Vince Goldsberry poured in 11.

Hampton shot 46.9 percent (23-for-49) from the floor, while hitting 20 of its 26 free throws. Coppin State shot 43.1 percent (25-for-58) from the floor, going 3-for-7 from behind the arc and hitting 14-of-17 free throws.

The Pirates out-rebounded their second opponent of the season, pulling down 37 boards to Coppin State's 27. Hampton committed 22 turnovers to Coppin State's 17.

The Pirates took a 37-35 lead into the half, thanks largely to three Hampton players hitting double figures in scoring in the opening frame. Simpson took 12 points into the locker room, thanks in large part to a 5-for-9 shooting effort, while Freeman had 11 on 5-for-6 shooting and Funches added 10 points, going 6-for-7 from the free throw line.

Freeman and Funches each pulled down six rebounds in the first half.

The Pirates shot 46.4 percent (13-for-28) from the floor in the first half, making nine of their 10 free throws in that frame. Coppin State shot 40.6 percent (13-for-32) from the floor, with Young pouring in a team-high eight points in the first half.

Hampton out-rebounded Coppin State 20-15 in the first half.

The Pirates will return to action on Monday, when they face Morgan State at the HU Convocation Center at 7 p.m. The game will be televised live on ESPNU. 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.