Box Score

HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University men's basketball team came out strong and made it three in a row on Saturday, beating Delaware State 64-45 at the HU Convocation Center.

Frisco Sandidge hit a jumper with 12:58 to play to pull Delaware State within 41-38, but the Pirates responded with a 12-0 run, going up 53-38 at the 8:26 mark on a Vincent Simpson (Philadelphia, Pa.) transition layup. The Hornets would pull to within 11 on a Marcus Neal 3-pointer with 6:38 to play, but again Hampton (11-17, 7-8 MEAC) answered.

Darrion Pellum (Hampton, Va.) sank a layup with 3:53 to play that capped an 8-0 run for the Pirates and put them up 61-42. Charles Funches (Bayonne, N.J.) added a jumper with 1:06 to play to put Hampton up 63-44.

Michael Freeman (Alexandria, Va.) led the Pirates with his 12th double-double of the season, scoring 14 points and pulling down 14 rebounds. Pellum added 12 points for the Pirates, while Kwame Morgan II (Largo, Md.) went 3-for-3 from behind the arc en route to scoring 10 points.

The Pirates shot 45.7 percent (21-for-46) from the floor and 81.0 percent (17-for-21) from the free throw line. Hampton also held a 30-28 rebounding advantage, while forcing Delaware State (15-11, 10-5 MEAC) into 21 turnovers.

Neal scored a team-high 12 points for the Hornets, who shot 40.9 percent (18-for-44) from the floor and made just five of 14 free throws. Marques Oliver added 11 points, while both Oliver and Neal led Delaware State with six rebounds each.

Hampton went on a 17-7 run midway through the first half, going up 27-16 on a Morgan 3-pointer at the 6:13 mark. A pair of free throws from Freeman put the Pirates up 33-21 with 4:10 left in the half, though Delaware State answered with six unanswered points.

Simpson sank a layup with one second left in the half to send Hampton into the locker room up 35-27.

The Pirates shot 48.0 percent (12-for-25) from the floor in the first half, going 3-for-8 from behind the arc and making all eight of their free throws. Freeman had 10 points and nine rebounds to lead Hampton in the opening frame.

The Hornets shot 44.4 percent (12-for-27) from the floor in the first half and were out-rebounded 15-12. Neal led the Hornets with nine first-half points.

The Pirates will return to action on Monday, when they take on Longwood at 7 p.m. in 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.