NCAA News Wire
Hampton 62, Tennessee State 54
Hampton hit its free throws down the stretch to hold off Tennessee State’s comeback attempt and earn a 62-54 victory on the road.
Quinton Chievous hit a layup to give the Pirates a 50-43 lead with 4:13 to play. That was the team’s last basket of the game, but that didn’t matter because Hampton (2-5) finished the game 12-12 at the line. Ke’Ron Brown, Dwight Meikle and Deron Powers each was perfect on four attempts during that span over the final 3:25.
The game was tied at 24 at halftime, and Tennessee State (2-6) took the lead right after intermission on a pair of Xavier Richards free throws. The teams traded baskets for a stretch, with the Tigers taking the lead for the last time 38-37 on a Christian Crocket three-point play with 12:42 left. But Brian Darden hit a 3-pointer for Hampton, and the Tigers never drew even again.
Meikle led the Pirates with 15 points. Brown added 12, and Powers finished with 11. Chievous had a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds. The victory broke a three-game losing streak for the Pirates.
The Tigers, who dropped their fifth game in a row, shot just 31.4 percent from the field and didn’t have a player finish in double figures. Christian Mekowulu had nine points to lead the squad.