Box Score

HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University men's basketball team got back into the win column Monday night, defeating the Tigers of Towson University 78-67 at the HU Convocation Center.

The Pirates (8-2) controlled much of the second half, though Towson closed the gap to 61-55 with 6:52 to play when Dre Conner converted a 3-point play. The Pirates responded emphatically when senior forward Charles Funches (Jersey City, N.J.) threw down a one-handed dunk over Braxton Dupree, drawing the foul and converting the 3-point play at the 5:10 mark to give the Pirates a 68-57 lead.

Junior guard Christopher Tolson (Laurel, Md.) sank a trey with 2:01 to play to put Hampton up 76-63.

Four Pirates scored in double figures, led by a career-high 26 from Funches – who also pulled down a career-high 12 rebounds for his second double-double of the season. Junior guard Darrion Pellum (Hampton, Va.) added 14 points, while junior guard Kwame Morgan II (Largo, Md.) added 12 points on 4-for-6 shooting from behind the arc.

Junior forward Danny Agbelese (Lanham, Md.) scored a career-high 12 points, 10 in the first half, to go along with six rebounds and three blocked shots. Senior guard Brandon Tunnell (Wilmington, Del.) dished out a career-high 11 assists.

The Pirates shot 27-for-59 (45.8 percent) from the floor, while making a season-best 11-for-20 3-pointers. Hampton and Towson each pulled down 33 rebounds on the night, and the Pirates forced Towson into 17 turnovers.

Rashawn Polk led Towson with 16 points, while Conner added 15 points and Dupree poured in 14 before fouling out with 5:10 to play. Towson shot 46.3 percent (25-for-54) from the floor, but the Tigers only made three of 13 3-point attempts.

After Dupree sank a jumper with 9:36 left in the first half to pull Towson (3-6) within two, the Pirates went on a 19-6 run, taking a 43-28 lead at the 2:27 mark on a Pellum trey. The Tigers closed the half with a 7-2 spurt, leaving Hampton with a 45-35 edge into the break.

Funches led the Pirates with 14 points in the first half, while Morgan added 12 on 4-for-5 shooting from 3-point range.

The Pirates shot 48.6 percent (18-for-37) from the floor in the first half, while also making seven of 12 3-point attempts. Hampton forced Towson into 10 turnovers, scoring 12 points off of them.

Towson shot 44.4 percent (12-for-27) from the floor and out-rebounded the Pirates 18-17.

Dupree led the Tigers with 10 first-half points.

The Pirates will return to action on Wednesday, when they take on Liberty at the HU Convocation Center at 7 p.m. 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.