Bison and Pirates Battle in Big Apple Classic on Saturday
Game 8
Howard (3-4) vs. Hampton (2-3)
Big Apple Classic
Date: Saturday, Dec. 1
Time: 9 p.m. EST
Place: Madison Square Garden, New York, N.Y.
Series: Hampton leads 36-17
Saturday's contest is a MEAC game between the Pirates of Hampton and the Bison of Howard. The Pirates (2-3 overall, 0-0 in the MEAC) were coming off a big, 51-50 road over Delaware at presstime that snapped a three-game losing streak Hampton has a game on Thursday at VCU. The Bison (3-4 overall, 0-0 in the MEAC) are coming off a 75-65 home win over Navy on Tuesday that snapped a two-game losing streak.
Howard
Probable Starters
|
No. |
Name |
Pos. |
Cl. |
Ht. |
2007-08 Stats |
|
05 |
Adam Walker |
F |
Fr. |
6-8 |
6.5 ppg/ 5.3 rpg |
|
10 |
Randy Hampton |
F |
Jr. |
6-5 |
8.0 ppg/3.6 rpg |
|
32 |
Eugene Myatt |
G |
Jr. |
6-5 |
20.0 ppg/3.5 rpg |
|
22 |
Jeron Smith |
G |
Sr. |
6-5 |
8.7 ppg/3.3 rpg |
|
0 |
Curtis White |
G |
So. |
6-4 |
5.5 ppg/3.7 rpg |
Reserves
|
No. |
Name |
Pos. |
Cl. |
Ht. |
2007-08 Stats |
|
15 |
Kyle Riley |
G |
Fr. |
6-3 |
10.0 ppg/2.3 rpg |
|
1 |
Kandi Mukole |
F |
So. |
6-8 |
8.3 ppg/4.7 rpg |
Hampton
Probable Starters
|
No. |
Name |
Pos. |
Cl. |
Ht. |
2007-08 Stats |
|
12 |
Theo Smalling |
F |
So. |
6-7 |
2.6 ppg/4.4 rpg |
|
15 |
Adrian Woodard |
F |
Sr. |
6-4 |
5.4 ppg/4.8 rpg |
|
21 |
Michael Freeman |
F |
So. |
6-8 |
4.8 ppg/2.8 rpg |
|
3 |
Rashad West |
G |
Sr. |
6-1 |
16.8 ppg/2.0 apg |
|
13 |
Jordan Brooks |
G |
Fr. |
5-9 |
2.2 ppg/2.4 apg |
Reserves
|
No. |
Name |
Pos. |
Cl. |
Ht. |
2007-08 Stats |
|
1 |
Matthew Pilgrim |
F |
So. |
5-4 |
10.2 ppg/5.8 rpg |
|
2 |
Vincent Simpson |
G |
So. |
5-8 |
13.0 ppg/2.0 rpg |
The Coaches
Hampton is coached by Kevin Nickleberry (Virginia
Wesleyan, '86), who is in his second year as head coach of the
Pirates. Nickleberry served as assistant coach under Mike
McLeese here at Howard. Howard is coached by Gil Jackson
(Elizabethtown College, '69), who is in his third season and has an
18-47 career record to date.
Series Record
The two schools split last season with the Bison
prevailing in the Big Apple Classic, 95-84 but Hampton defeated the
Bison, 76-61 in the first round of last year's MEAC Tournament in
Raleigh, NC. The Pirates lead the series, 36-17 and are 20-4
vs. Howard since 1999.
Pirate Treasures
The Pirates are the pre-season favorites to win the MEAC...Hampton
is averaging 10 steals per game...all three Pirate losses came on
the road by an average of six points...Hampton is averaging four
blocked shots per game...Matt Pilgrim leads the team with
eight...The Pirates have allowed their opponents a little over 62
points per game.
Bison Hooves
Myatt is shooting 53 percent from the field and 43
percent from three-point range...Howard is on a pace to have a
record-breaking season in blocked shots...the Bison already have 33
with Adam Walker leading the way with 11...Howard has had problems
with turnovers, averaging over 17 per game....the Bison are
shooting only 27 percent from beyond the arc...Howard has started a
different lineup in each game.
Next Up
Hampton travels to Fairfax, VA on Wednesday to take
on the Patriots of George Mason University at 7 pm while the Bison
travel cross-town to face the Eagles of American University on
Tuesday at 7 pm.
Media Notes
This game will be broadcast live on ESPN360 and will
be aired on tape delay on ESPNU.
