HAMPTON, Va. – Ricky Johnson scored a season-high 20 points in Bethune-Cookman's 75-70 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference loss to Hampton Saturday night.

Reginald Johnson Jr. scored 18 points, including the go-ahead lay-up with 46 seconds left, as the defending MEAC tournament champion Pirates (7-7 overall, 2-0 MEAC) concluded the game with a 7-0 run as they handed the Wildcats (4-12,1-1) their eight consecutive loss.

Bethune-Cookman trailed by as many as 14 in the first half but trimmed the deficit to 38-36 at halftime.

Jordan Potts gave the Wildcats their first lead of the night with a three-pointer that made it 41-38 with 18:34 left, and Bethune-Cookman opened the second half by making five of its first six three-pointers.

Johnson, a senior, sank three consecutive three-pointers as Bethune-Cookman built a 56-46 lead with 13:09 remaining.

After Hampton tied it at 68, a Potts jumper with 2:58 remaining gave the Wildcats their final lead of the night.

Mario Moody had 15 points for the Wildcats, while Potts and Smith each scored 12 and Randy Holmes added nine. Smith also had eight rebounds and five blocked shots.

Bethune-Cookman faces Norfolk State Monday night.

HEAD COACH GRAVELLE CRAIG

“We didn't make enough plays. We had some open looks and a chance to keep the lead. Great effort, but we didn't close.”

“It's MEAC time, so you have to come to play 40 minutes. Every game is going to be like this.”

“Ricky gets his legs under him by this time. He plays his way into shape.”

RICKY JOHNSON

“I don't know what happened. I was just catching and shooting. [Associate Head Coach Rodney Martin] and I have been working on shooting in rhythm. I don't like doing it, but he knows I'm a rhythm shooter.”

“We outplayed them for a period of time, but we have to play 40 minutes and not in spurts.”

NOTES: Johnson now needs 18 points to reach the 1,000 career mark...This was Johnson's ninth career 20- point game....Smith has now blocked four shots or more in five of the past seven games...Hampton has now won the last four games in the series...Holmes has made a three-pointer in eight straight games