Hampton's Jalyke Gaines-Wyatt stole the show at the Convocation Center, scoring 24 points and dishing out 5 assists to lead his team to a resounding 82-61 victory over North Carolina A&T. The Pirates' convincing win was a reflection of their balanced offense, with Michael Eley chipping in 18 points and Daniel Johnson adding 9 points and 10 rebounds.
The game got off to a competitive start, with Hampton holding a 43-34 lead at halftime. However, the Pirates' offense caught fire in the second half, outscoring the Aggies 39-27 to seal the win. North Carolina A&T's Dwayne Pierce did his best to keep his team in the game, scoring 16 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Pirates' onslaught. Trent Middleton Jr. and Zamoku Weluche-Ume added 14 and 10 points, respectively, for the Aggies, but their efforts were ultimately overshadowed by Hampton's dominant performance.
CHD Scout's pre-game prediction had Hampton winning by a slim 3.2-point margin, but the Pirates had other plans. They blew past the predicted score, winning by a convincing 21 points. The actual score was a far cry from the predicted 70-67 deadlock, with Hampton's offense proving to be too much for the Aggies to handle.
CHD Scout Report Card
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Final
The win improves Hampton's record to 9-10, while North Carolina A&T falls to 7-10. While neither team is likely to make a deep tournament run, the victory is still an important one for the Pirates' resume. As a Quadrant 4 win, it may not carry significant weight, but it's a step in the right direction for a team looking to build momentum. For North Carolina A&T, the loss is also a Quadrant 4 defeat, which won't hurt their tournament chances too much, but it's still a missed opportunity to pick up a win against a similarly ranked opponent.
As the season wears on, Hampton want to build on this win and string together a few more victories to bolster their tournament resume. While they still have a long way to go, the Pirates' dominant performance against North Carolina A&T is a promising sign. With Gaines-Wyatt leading the charge, Hampton has the potential to make some noise in their conference and potentially sneak into the tournament conversation. For now, though, they'll take the win and look to keep their momentum going. The Pirates' convincing victory over the Aggies is a reflection of their potential, and they'll look to carry that momentum forward as they navigate the rest of their schedule.