NORFOLK, Va. — Hampton pulled away late in Saturday’s championship game against Delaware State, taking an 82-61 win at Norfolk Scope Arena to win the 2015 MEAC Tournament championship and the automatic NCAA Tournament bid.
The Pirates (16-17) won their fifth overall tournament title and first MEAC title since 2011.
Brian Darden and Reginald Johnson each led the Pirates with 20 points, going a combined 11-for- 26 from the floor, while Deron Powers, the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, added 16 points. Charles Wilson-Fisher added a team-high seven rebounds.
Hampton shot 42.9 percent (27-for-63) from the floor – including a 14-for-28 effort in the second half – hitting nine of 23 3-pointers and going 19-for-24 (79.2 percent) from the free throw line.
The game was tied at 32-32 coming out the half, but Hampton outscored the Hornets – who won both regular-season meetings between the two teams – 50-29 in the second half.
The fifth-seeded Hornets shot 43.4 percent (23-for-53) from the floor, but went just 9-for-26 (34.6 percent) in the second half. Delaware State only hit eight of 16 free throws and committed 17 turnovers.
Amere May led Delaware State (17-16) with 20 points.
MEAC Media Relations
