Jan. 22, 2011
By Dan Ryan
B-CUAthletics.com
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Back at home. Back to earth at the same time. Hampton ended Bethune-Cookman's five-game winning streak Saturday with a 68-56 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference decision in historic Moore Gymnasium.
Charles Funches scored 15 points to lead four players in double figures as the Pirates (15-4,5-1) handed the Wildcats (10-9,5-1) both their first league loss of the season and first home loss.
Hampton nailed a trio of three-pointers in the opening minutes to take a 9-0 lead and it didn't get much better for the Wildcats after that.
The shots weren't falling - BCU's percentage was as low as 28 percent -- and the team simply came out flat.
"I don't care about missed shots," said B-CU coach Clifford Reed Jr. What doesn't go is not having passion or energy. When you're missing shots or having an off night, you can bring that.
"Obviously , I'm disappointed in the loss, but I'm even more disappointed in how we played," Reed added. "Sometimes your opponent dictates that you lose. If we lose games, I'd like to play harder and execute better than what we did today."
B-CU got back to a 13-13 tie on a CJ Reed free throw with 9:10 remaining in the first half and again at 15-15 on a Garrius Holloman lay-up two minutes later, but Hampton used an 16-0 run for a 31-15 lead with 2:57 left. The Wildcats trailed 34-23 at halftime.
Two Alexander Starling free throw closed B-CU to 34-25 at the start of the second half. Hampton once again pulled away and led 55-32 with 10:52 to play.
B-CU pulled within striking distance at 55-43 on two Aric Miller free throws with 7:47 left, but missed three opportunities to close within ten over the next two minutes. The Cats did get it under ten in the final minute on a Stanley Elliott jumper.
CJ Reed led B-CU with 13. Elliott made the most of extended playing time and registered 12 points and 9 rebounds in 30 minutes. Freshman Mikel Trapp had 10 points.
Hampton moved into a first-place tie with the Wildcats as the Pirates won for the fourth straight time in Moore Gym. The Pirates won by 27 here last year.
"It's harder to play when you've haven't been in the position we're in now and people are making a fuss," Coach Reed said. "There are more distractions at home."
B-CU will host Howard Monday at the Ocean Center with a 7:30 p.m. tipoff.
