HAMPTON – Looking to kickstart the New Year after a pair of losses to conference opponents Charleston
and Elon last week, the Pirates found themselves at an immediate disadvantage, courtesy of a flu bug
which decimated the team, and kept five players out of action.
Despite opening a sizable lead in the first half, Hampton unraveled in the second half, as the visiting Campbell Camels outscored the Pirates 46-25, enroute to a 66-55 win at Convocation Hall.
“We got off to a good start, but didn’t get it done in the second half,” said Pirate coach Ivan Thomas, whose team’s record is now even at 8-8 (1-3 in the CAA). Despite the sickness which has overcome his team, Thomas was clear not to make excuses. “(Missing players) does not excuse our performance. We had them under control, but our effort, enthusiasm, and toughness were tested, and we came up soft. We did not protect our home court, which is our goal.”
Leading scorer Noah Farrakhan (13.1 ppg) was among the group of ailing warriors, and the Pirates were only able to suit up ten players. But a pair of scoring runs put the hosts in the lead, and then in early control of the game.
The first splurge started with Hampton down 9-8. A rebound and bank shot by Daniel Johnson started an 8-0 stretch which was highlighted by a hard-fought turnaround fade jumper by Kyrese Mullin to push the Pirate lead to five. Another Mullen score punctuated the drive and extended the margin to 16-9.
A three-point jumper by Campbell’s Jasin Sinani and layup by Colby Duggan in the paint closed the lead to 16-14. But Hampton’s next avalanche of points, eleven in all, put the Pirates firmly in control of the game at 27-14. Five different players scored, indicative of the even ball distribution employed by Coach Ivan Thomas’ team, as Tyler Rice, Wayne Bristol Jr., and Mullen each led Hampton with six points at the intermission.
But the game’s final result may have been foreshadowed at the end of the first half as the Camels scored a pair of baskets off turnovers to close the lead to 30-20 at the break.
Hampton came out flat in the second half, notching three turnovers, each resulting in a Campbell layup and score to put the visitors down by four at 30-26. Later, a three point from the right wing by Jasin Sinani tied the contest at 34. Campbell then went on a 10-2 run, marked by three-pointers from Sinani (21 pts.) and Nolan Dorsey. Now leading 44-36, the Camels found an extra gear and cruised to the victory. All five Campbell starters finished in double figures in scoring, helping the Camels improve to 7-8, with a 2-1 mark in the CAA.
George Beale Jr. led the Pirates with 15 points. Hampton will have only one day of rest before hosting Delaware on Saturday at 2 PM.
No comments:
Post a Comment