Game Notes
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Hampton University men’s basketball team will look to get back into the win column Monday night, when it heads to the C.E. Gaines Center to take on the Rams of Winston-Salem State at 7:30 p.m.
The Pirates (7-15) fell 72-60 on Saturday at South Carolina State, despite 19 points from
Vincent Simpson (Philadelphia, Pa.) and the 10th double-double of the season from
Michael Freeman (Alexandria, Va.) -- 15 points, 11 rebounds. Winston-Salem State won its second straight game on Saturday, beating Howard 62-58 at the C.E. Gaines Center to surpass the team’s win total from 2008-09.
Since the Rams (9-12) became a preliminary member of the MEAC, Hampton is 4-0 against Winston-Salem State. The Pirates swept both meetings during the 2007-08 season, before also taking both of last season’s games. Hampton beat the Rams 59-43 in the Freedom Classic on Jan. 17, 2009, before taking a 67-49 win on Feb. 16, 2009 at the LVJM Coliseum. None of the four meetings between Hampton and Winston-Salem State have counted in the conference standings.
The Rams went 8-22 last season, and come into 2009-10 returning three starters and 10 letterwinners.
Senior guard Brian Fisher leads Winston-Salem State in scoring this season, averaging 11.2 points per game on 35.7 percent (75-for-210) shooting. Junior forward Paul Davis is averaging 10.4 points per contest, while also leading the team in rebounding with 7.6 boards per game.
The Rams are averaging 63.0 points per game as a team on offense, while giving up 69.7 points a game on defense. Opponents are out-rebounding Winston-Salem State by an average of 38.6-37.0 per contest.
The Pirates are 3-9 so far this season in true road games, thanks to victories at Wyoming (Nov. 28, 78-67) and at North Carolina A&T (Jan. 18, 65-55). Ten of Hampton’s first 12 games were away from the HU Convocation Center, including a stretch of games from Nov. 25 through Dec. 23. Hampton is also 1-2 on the season in neutral-court games, including a 56-54 loss to Howard in the Big Apple Classic in Madison Square Garden on Dec. 5. So far this season, the Pirates are 2-3 on the road in MEAC games so far this season.
Live stats for Saturday’s game between Hampton and Winston-Salem State will be available through the official Bulldogs website at www.wssurams.com. Pirates basketball games can be heard live on WHOV 88.1 FM, with Rod Pinkney and Shamar Woods calling all the action.
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.