AGGIES END LOSING STREAK TO HAMPTON

Box Score
GREENSBORO, NC, February 27, 2006 – North Carolina A&T is pretty much locked in the No. 8 spot as the MEAC Tournament approaches despite its 65-60 win over Hampton at Cal Irvin-Don Corbett Court at Corbett Sports Center on Monday in MEAC men’s basketball action.

 It’s not a position head coach Jerry Eaves sees as a bad one. With the win over the Pirates, the Aggies have now defeated three of the top four teams in the MEAC this season with Coppin State and Bethune-Cookman being the other two. The Aggies have lost the No. 1 team – Delaware State – by a combined seven points.

 The Aggies improved to 6-20, 6-10 in the MEAC with their first win over Hampton in 10 tries. It also marked the most conference wins the team as had in the Eaves era. Walk-on Angelo Hernandez, who didn’t make the active roster until December, led the Aggies with 15 points. Jason Wills added 14 points and nine rebounds.

 “We’re looking good,’’ said Wills. “We’re putting things together at the right time. We’re getting wins against the top teams and that gives us confidence going into the tournament.”

 Wills’ jumper just inside the free throw line gave the Aggies a 19-18 with 8:42 remaining in the first half. The Aggies would never trail again. The Aggies expanded their lead to five at the half and maintained the same lead four minutes into the second half. Greg Roberts then ignited an 8-0 run by the stealing the ball from Hampton’s 6-foot-11 center Bruce Brown, and getting the ball to Hernandez on the break.

 Hernandez would score, and when the Aggies were finished with their spurt they held a 42-29 lead with 13 minutes remaining in the game. “We did a great job of containing Brown,’’ said Eaves. “He got limited touches all night. We did give up some rebounds on seconds shots because their forwards were able to rebound the ball.”

 “But we got great effort and the bottom line is our team wanted to win this game and they did it.”

 N.C. A&T held on to its double-digit lead until the 5:07 mark when Adrian Woodard scored on a layup to the cut the Aggies lead to eight, 54-46. The Pirates’ pressure caused two more Aggie turnovers, which led to two more Pirate baskets that cut the Aggies lead to four.

 When Brown, who had eight points and seven rebounds, hit a short jumper in the lane at the 2:45 mark, the Pirates were within two 56-54. Freshman point guard Christopher Faison, a former Durham Hillside standout, took charge for the Aggies.

 After getting a stern lecture from Eaves for not blocking out a minute earlier, Faison responded. He scored on a driving layup to give the Aggies a 58-54 lead with 2:39 to play. With 1:06 remaining, he swiped the ball from Hampton guard Rashad West.

 Seconds later, West scored to pull Hampton to within four at 61-57. Faison would come through again by following up a Michael Hayes miss to give N.C. A&T a 63-57 lead with 38.4 seconds remaining.

 His last redemption effort came with 11 seconds remaining. With the Aggies up three, 63-60, Faison broke away from the Pirates press and slammed the deficit basket through the net.

 “He did not box out,’’ said Eaves. “We have to execute when it’s game-winning time, and we have to do things that help us win. I had to motivate him and by doing that he made a couple of big game-winning plays.”

 No one from Hampton reached double figures. Jaz Cowan and West had nine points apiece. The Aggies will play at home on Wednesday against Howard, and will say farewell to Hayes and Leslie Powell on Senior Night.