Hampton Advances to MEAC Tournament Final With 85-61 Win Over Norfolk State
Sahar Abdur-Rashid 03/11/11

Winston-Salem, NC—March 11—Kwame Morgan scored a game-high 30 points and Darrion Pellum added 18 but it was the suffocating team defense that proved to be the difference as Hampton pulled out an 85-61 win over Norfolk State in the semifinals of the MEAC Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Joel Coliseum.

The No. 2 Pirates (23-8) will take on the Bears of Morgan State in the championship game on Saturday at 2 pm. The game will be televised live on ESPN2.

The No. 6 Spartans (12-20) got the upper hand early and held an eight-point lead before the Pirates mounted a late rally just before the half to take a 37-33 lead .

“I thought we started the game with a little nervous energy which had worked for us the day before, but it worked against us this time,” said Hampton head coach Ed Joyner, Jr. “We settled down and right there near the half, we went on that run that enabled us to catch up. At that point, our confidence picked up and we began to play our style and dictate tempo.”

The Pirates, who are ranked nationally in scoring defense, shut down the Spartans, holding them to 33 percent (10-of- 30) shooting in the second half. During one stretch, Norfolk State went without a field goal for over six minutes.

“Hampton played a great game,” complimented Norfolk State head coach Anthony Evans. “Our guys played hard. We played hard for three games. We just ran out of gas.”

Forward Danny Agbelese complemented the scoring of Morgan and Pellum and grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds.

Kyle O’Quinn, the MEAC Defensive Player of the Year finished with 19 points, 17 rebounds and six blocks.

The Pirates and the Bears met during the season and Morgan State prevailed 78-72 in Baltimore, Md. This will be Joyner’s first championship game as a head coach.

“This is my first championship as a head coach and them as players,” said Joyner. “Being in my hometown adds to how special it will be if we are able to win."