Hampton defeats Jackson St 80-84

Hampton 84, Jackson St 80: Thrilling Comeback Wins in Toyota Chris Paul HBCU Classic

The Gateway Center erupted in a frenzy of excitement last night as the visiting Hampton University Pirates edged out host Jackson State University 84-80 in an electrifying non-conference matchup. The high-scoring affair was a true thriller, with both teams trading baskets and neither able to pull away convincingly.

At halftime, the home team Jackson St led by just one point, 35-36. However, Hampton took control in the second half, using its strong three-point shooting and free throw efficiency to build an insurmountable lead. The largest margin of the game came when Hampton expanded their advantage to as many as 13 points.

The largest leads in the contest were indeed held by these teams - with Hampton boasting a 13-point gap at one point, while Jackson St trailed by a mere three points earlier.

Hampton's shooting was a key factor in its victory. The Pirates connected on 48% of their field goal attempts, including an impressive 48% from beyond the arc. They also shot 84% from the free throw line, utilizing that efficiency to fuel their late surge. Hampton's bench contributed significantly as well, scoring 22 points.

On the other hand, Jackson St struggled with its three-point shooting, hitting just 31% of their attempts. The Tigers did manage a respectable 62.5% clip on two-point field goals but ultimately fell short due to their inability to close out wins in crucial moments.

In the end, Hampton's strong team effort secured the thrilling victory, cementing the Pirates' status as an early-season powerhouse contender.