Jan. 10, 2009
Final Stats 15-Game Cumulative B-CU Stats (7-8, 1-1, MEAC)
Contact B-CU SID Mark Johnson (481) 386-2206 -
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -
Hampton Out Scores B-CU 18-7 In Final Five Minutes For Comeback 53-51 Road Win at Moore Gymnasium
Hampton's Brandon Tunnel scored seven points in the final five minutes and Vincent Simpson's long three-pointer with 1:02 to play - gave the Pirates the lead for good 50-48, completing a come back win over the Wildcats.
B-CU's Kevan Creppy had a tip-in basket with 5:41 to play for the Wildcat's biggest lead (44-35) of the contest. Then Hampton (7-7, 2-0 ) continued its pressure defense and forced B-CU turnovers and long missed shots by the 'Cats and the Pirates held on for a big MEAC Conference road win.
"Their pressure defense speeds you up and gets you out your comfort zone," said Coach Clifford Reed, Jr. "We didn't do a good job against their pressure. And down the stretch we missed free throws too. Our attention to detail and handling the basketball under pressure - we have to do a better job. We worked on it (against Hampton's press) for 4 days in practice. We knew how they were going to play."
The loss over shadowed the solid defensive effort by the Wildcats for over 35 minutes in the game. B-CU led at halftime 21-16 and they led throughout the second half after HU closed to one point 21-20, scoring the first four points of the second twenty minutes.
The Wildcats (7-8, 1-1) continued their lead and out-rebounded the taller Pirates 30-23 in the game. C. J. Reed led three B-CU scorers in double figures with 12 points and the freshman scoring leader was doubled and triple teamed the entire game. Sophomore co-captain Alexander Starling had 11 points and 8 rebounds and senior John Holmes scored 10 points and had six rebounds and two blocked shots. Holmes had two huge plays in the second half. A dunk to put B-CU up seven (42-35) with 6:07 to play, and a monster blocked shot to swat away a Hampton layup before their comeback in the final minutes.
"Our inexperience was a major factor in the game," said Coach Reed. The Wildcats started four freshman and a sophomore and they played without injured Kene Anusionwu (6-8, Jr. frontliner) who has started the past nine games up front for B-CU.
Howard University will be in Daytona Beach Monday night to take on the Wildcats. A 7:30 men's game following the women's MEAC game at 5:30 in Moore Gymnasium.
