Bulldogs Suffer 78-66 Defeat To Pirates

Senior guard Brandon Riley led the Bulldogs with a game-high 24 points.

Box Score HAMPTON, VA—The South Carolina State Bulldogs continue to struggle getting in the win column in conference play, suffering a 78-66 defeat to the Pirates of Hampton University Tuesday at the HU Convocation Center.
        Hampton (7-13 overall, 3-4 MEAC) snapped a four-game losing streak with the victory, meanwhile SC State (4-16 overall, 0-7 MEAC) dropped its 14 straight contest this season.
         Senior guard Brandon Riley led the Bulldogs with a game-high 24 points, while junior guard Aaron Martin added 15 points and six rebounds in the loss.
         The Pirates had four players in double-figures with sophomore center David Bruce leading with way with a team-high 19 points and 12 rebounds, while teammate senior forward Danny Agbelese tossed in 12 points and grabbed 12 rebounds .
         SC State jumped out to an early four point lead, 18-14 off a layup by senior Omar Sanders at the 12:26 mark early in the first half. Senior guard Mike Tuitt's layup followed by another one by junior Austin Aaron gave Hampton their biggest lead of the half five, 28-23, with 6:22 left.
          The Bulldogs sparked a 17-7 run to jump ahead, 40-35, off a layup by senior forward Joe Ikhinmwin with 0:53 seconds left in the first half. SC State closed out the half with a 40-35 lead over Hampton.
         Junior point guard Khalif Toombs made of the first score of the second half nailing a 3-pointer to lift the Bulldogs to an eight-point lead, 43-35. The Pirates sparked a 10-2 run started by Bruce, which pulled Hampton within one point, 45-44, with 13:33 left to play.
          Hampton never looked back going on an 11-0 run to take an eight-point advantage, 55-47 with 9:21 left in regulation. The Pirates led by as many as 15 at one point, with the Bulldogs cutting the lead to as many as three points at one point, but senior guard Christopher Tolson's 3-pointer at the 6:55 mark sparked a 13-0 run for the Pirates.
         The Bulldogs finished with a game-high 16 turnovers, while the Pirates dominated the boards out-rebounding SC State 55-41 on the glass.
Senior guard's Mike Tuitt and Christopher Tolson each chipped in 12 points each in the victory for the Pirates.
         South Carolina State will return to action on Monday, January 30, when they host Howard University in a pivotal MEAC doubleheader. Tipoff for the women's game is 5:30 p.m., with the men following immediately after in a 7:30 p.m. showdown.
                                                           --30--

Print Friendly Version