NEWARK, N.J. (Feb. 3, 2024) (Courtesy of Hampton Athletics) – Hampton University men’s basketball team defeated Howard 63-61 inside the Prudential Center at Invesco QQQ Legacy Classic. Throughout the contest, Jerry Deng provided the Pirates a bucket when they needed it. Deng finished the contest with a game-high 21 points. Ja’Von Benson was a force for Hampton on the defensive end setting a new career-high in blocks with seven. While HU shot 5-19 from beyond the arc, the Pirates were able to hit two threes in the final minute to secure the victory.
Hampton was able to score the contest’s first points with a layup from Joshua Lusane. The Pirates early on had an advantage on the glass grabbing three offensive rebounds before the first media timeout. After Lusane’s layup, the Bison produced a 7-0 run taking advantage of HU’s scoring drought. Freshman Jerry Deng ended the Pirate’s four-minute drought with a layup in transition.
Both sides continued to struggle to score coming out of the under 12-minute media timeout. The Pirate’s defense was able to hold Howard to 28 percent shooting from the field through the first 10 minutes. After missing their first five attempts from beyond the arc, Deng got the Pirates going from three. With Coach Edward Joyner Jr.’s squad forcing turnovers, HU only trailed by one at the next media timeout.
Howard would score nine unanswered points to take the largest lead of the contest 30-18. However, with Joshua Lusane and Jerry Deng hitting shots, the Pirates brought it back to within five. Deng in the first half led Hampton in scoring with 10 points off the bench. Lusane in his first start since January 6th was close behind with eight points in the first 20 minutes. Before the end of the half, Howard made a layup with seconds left putting them up by seven.
Throughout the second half, HU’s defense silenced Howard’s offense. Early on in the half, the Bison went over four minutes without a field goal. Ja’Von Benson anchored Hampton’s defense throughout the final 20 minutes. The Columbia, S.C. native, finished the game with a career-high seven blocks. While Hampton struggled from the field in the first half, the Pirates shot 46.2 percent in the final half. HU was able to make it a four-point game before reaching the six-minute mark.
The Bison would take another double-digit lead with five minutes to go. Hampton found a way to bring it back to within one possession. With Howard hitting free throws late they would take a four-point lead at the 1:16 Mark. Jerry Deng continued to make shots down the stretch for the Pirates. Deng in the final minute hit back-to-back threes to put Hampton up by two late. Coach Joyner Jr’s squad continued to stop the Bison and made their free throws in the closing seconds securing the win 63-61.
The Pirates return to action on Thursday at 7:00 PM inside the Convocation Center hosting Hofstra.