Thursday, January 1, 2009

Pirates' defense smothers Yale Bulldogs

Junior guard Vinny Simpson left shooting game at dorm, going 0-8 in game against Yale.

HAMPTON, VA - Hampton University has developed the habit of smothering opponents on defense and making do with marginal shooting. Entering Tuesday night's home contest against Yale, the Pirates (6-6) had held foes to 39.4 percent field-goal shooting, while making only 38.3 percent of their shots. With 32.3 percent shooting Tuesday, the offensive touch eluded Hampton again, but in the final five minutes, freshmen Chris Tolson and Kwame Morgan drained three successive 3-pointers to lift Hampton to a 58-56 come-from-behind win.

Morgan gave Hampton its first lead and capped a 9-0 Pirate spurt when he fired in a trey from the right wing for a 50-48 advantage with 5:18 remaining. Until that basket, Hampton had made only one of 15 attempts from beyond the 3-point line. Yale's Travis Pinick tied the score at 50 with a basket, and then Tolson, who led all scorers with 21 points, pumped in the next eight Pirate points. Tolson made a 3-pointer with 4:41 left to regain the lead at 53-50. He then drew a foul while shooting from long-range and made two of three free throws. When he drilled a 3-pointer with 3:05 left, Hampton led 58-52.

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