By Randy Singleton
Community Affairs Correspondent
New Journal and Guide
HAMPTON
The Hampton University Pirates men’s and women’s basketball teams swept Norfolk State in the hoops version of the annual Battle of Bay. The HU men (12-8, 8-1 MEAC) captured 1st place in the MEAC with a 86-76 victory over the Spartans (10-13, 6-2 MEAC), while Lady Pirates(9-12, 7-1) cruised to victory with a 73-62 win over the winless Lady Spartans(0-19, 0-9 MEAC).
The capacity crowd of 8,123 watched HU’s Reginald Johnson score 29 points, while his Pirate teammates Quinton Chievous and Brian Darden chipped in 16 points each. Jeff Short led NSU with 23 points. NSU made only 4 of 20 shots from the 3 point arc.
In the women’s game, the Lady Pirates made the Lady Spartans “walk the plank” as they built a 24 point lead in the contest. The Lady Spartans cut the deficit to 7 points with 1:25 remaining. HU’s Malia Tate-DeFreitas led the Lady Pirates with 24 points and Makayla Sayle poured in 15 points. Dominique Harper led NSU with 17 points.
The teams meet again in Norfolk March 3 in the final regular season game before the start of the MEAC tournament at the Scope March 7-12.
