WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 8, 2024) … Kyrese Mullen’s lay-up on a pass from Ford Cooper Jr. with :06 left propelled No. 14-seed Hampton (9-23) to a 56-55 upset victory over No. 11-seed Elon (13-19) in the opening round of the Jersey Mike’s Coastal Athletic Association Championship. Hampton advances to the second round of the tournament in Washington, D.C.
Hampton had gone scoreless over the last three minutes of the game, missing seven consecutive shots from the field, before Mullen’s dramatic game-winner.
Hampton led by as many as 14 in the first half and 10 in the second before a 9-0 run by the Phoenix put Elon ahead 52-51 with 4:15 remaining. Jerry Deng’s three-pointer with 2:55 put the Pirates back ahead, 54-52. But Elon stormed back to take a 55-54 lead in the closing seconds.
Deng finished the game with 16 points. Ja’Von Benson scored 11 points for the Pirates with a team-high seven rebounds.
Hampton got off to as slow start but Elon started even slower. Elon scored the game’s first two points from the free throw line and Hampton didn’t get on the scoreboard until nearly two minutes into the contest. The Phoenix missed their first nine shots from the field but had five points, all from the free throw line.
The Pirates led by eight, 13-5, on a basket by Trey Thomas with 11:46 to go in the first half. Hampton’s lead grew to double figures, 27-16 on a 7-0 Pirate run capped by a Deng dunk with 4:21 left. Elon continued to struggle offensively, shooting only 19 percent late in the first half. Hampton had its biggest lead, 34-20, after a Nesbitt field goal and free throw with 1:13 to go. Elon ended the half with a five-point run to close to within nine, 34-25.
Eight players reached the scoring column in the first half led by Deng’s nine points. TK Simpkins led the Phoenix with eight first half points. Hampton shot 38 percent from the field and forced 11 Elon turnovers. With their late run, the Phoenix shot 27 percent from the field.
The game stayed close in the final 10 minutes and a basket by Simpkins with 25 seconds left put the Phoenix ahead 55-54. Hampton had a shot blocked in the final seconds but got the ball back in time for one last shot. And what a shot it was.
In other action, William & Mary topped North Carolina A&T, 79-62 in the first game of the CAA Championship.