Box Score
HAMPTON, Va., February 26, 2007  --  The North Carolina A&T basketball team came into its last three games with an almost impossible mission. All the Aggies had to do was win three straight road games to avoid a play-in game at the MEAC Tournament in March.

The Aggies are one win away from making the mission possible. Greg Roberts continued his stellar play as the Aggies defeated Hampton 79-76 at the University Convocation Center. Roberts scored 16 points and grabbed six rebounds on 6-for-11 shooting. It was a follow-up to his 19-point performance on 8-for-11 shooting in a double over time win over Norfolk State on Saturday.

The Aggies are in sole possession of fifth place, which would earn them a bye in the tournament. The Aggies can still finish as high as second place.

The Aggies are 14-15 overall and 10-7 in the MEAC, which are the most conference wins they’ve had since 2001-2002.  Jason Wills added 15 points for the Aggies and Austin Ewing had 15 on 4-for-8 shooting from 3-point range.

“This win is so huge for us,’’ said Eaves, whose team won at Hampton for the first time since 1998. “To come in here and beat a team of this quality is truly a boost for our players’ confidence. Hampton is tough, versatile team so truly is a testament to how hard my team fought tonight.”

N.C. A&T led by as many as nine in the second half, but a Matthew Pilgrim dunk put the Pirates in front by one, 67-66, with 4:21 remaining. Roberts would quickly put the Aggies back in front on two free throws. He followed that up with a quick cut to the basket as Jason Wills found him underneath for another two.

Hampton guard Kevin Sumner answered by hitting one of his five 3-pointers on the night to the tie the game at 70. Sumner finished with a game-high 19 points. Roberts answered again with a driving layup to put the Aggies up by two. After the two teams exchanged free throws, Ewing was fouled by Pilgrim going to the basket.

In the first game between the two teams, Ewing had a chance to ice the game at the line, but the 80-plus percent free throw shooter missed them both. But this time, on the road, Ewing knocked down both opportunities to give the Aggies a 75-71 lead with 54 seconds remaining.

West, the MEAC’s leading scorer, kept the pressure on with a runner in the lane. But Steven Rush, the MEAC Player of the Week, hit two more free throws and iced the game with a steal and pass ahead to Wills for a slam dunk.

“I told my team if we wanted that bye we would have to win all of these games. We had no room for error,’’ said Eaves. “These young men have stepped up to the challenge so far, but Delaware State is not where they are by luck. They are a very discipline team and tough to beat.”

The Aggies play Dover, Del., on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. The Hornets have already clinched the regular-season title