Senior forward Du’Vaughn Maxwell scored a team-high 16 points with eight rebounds to help the Hampton Pirates win the latest “Battle of the Real HU,” a 63-47 victory over the Howard Bison on Feb. 8 at the HU Convocation Center in Hampton, Va.
The score stayed close in the early minutes, but according to Howard Sports Information Director Ed Hill Jr., Hampton’s bench players entered the game and built a comfortable lead for the Pirates.
Sophomore guard Dwight Meikle and sophomore guard/forward Miles Jackson scored a combined 13 points off the bench in the first half to help give Hampton a 36-15 lead at halftime. Howard tried to cut into that lead with several scoring runs in the second half, but Hampton answered with their own runs to maintain the cushion over their opponents.
“Hampton is a talented team and they did a great job of jumping on us early,” Howard Coach Kevin Nickelberry told Howard Sports Information. “They did a good job of making it tough on to get shots in the first half.”
Howard junior forward Prince Okoroh, one of the team’s most consistent scorers, was completely shut down in the game. Okoroh has averaged 15 points per game this season, but scored only four points on 2-of-13 shooting against Hampton. Howard freshman guard James Daniels led all scorers with 21 points.
Hampton advanced to a 12-11 overall record, and 7-3 against the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). Howard dropped to a 6-18 overall record, and 4-5 in the MEAC.
Howard will face MEAC opponent Norfolk State on Feb. 10 in Norfolk, Va.
