EAST GREENSBORO – The North Carolina A&T men's basketball team earned a much-needed win Saturday afternoon at Corbett Sports Center, as they defeated longtime rival, the Hampton Pirates, 73-72 in overtime. In the process, the Aggies received clarity on their first-round opponent for the Jersey Mike's Colonial Athletic Association Men's Basketball Championship Tournament.
The Aggies will enter the tournament at Washington, D.C.'s Entertainment and Sports Arena as the No. 7 seed. They will face 10th-seeded Stony Brook at 6 p.m. Saturday, March 4. The Aggies and the Seawolves split their two regular-season matchups, each winning on their respective home floors. The winner will get the College of Charleston Sunday evening at 6.
A&T's win snapped a four-game losing streak as the Aggies finished the regular season 13-18 overall and 8-10 in the CAA in their first season. The Aggies were picked to finish seventh in the conference but ended in a tie for sixth place in the standings. Hampton will play Monmouth in the 12/13 seeded game Friday at 2 p.m.
The Aggies head into the tournament with some momentum after Marcus Watson blocked Tre Thomas' game-winning jump shot attempt on the baseline to secure the win. On Senior Day, Watson recorded his 14th career 20-plus-point game by finishing with 20 points and five rebounds. In addition, Redshirt freshman Duncan Powell recorded his second double-double in three games with 16 points and 15 rebounds.
"That was a tournament-level basketball game," said A&T interim head coach Phillip Shumpert. "Guys were fighting and playing with a lot of pride. Both teams were playing the game like it was a one-and-done. They played like the season would be over today if they didn't win. But the regular season is over today, but we've still got the conference tournament. For our last two games to be so intense and close is really good for us coming into the conference tournament because all of those games will be close."
A Watson four-point play gave the Aggies a 55-41 lead with 10 ½ minutes to play. Sophomore guard Kyle Duke kept the lead at 14 when he went down the lane for a one-hand slam for a 57-43 A&T lead with 7:51 to play. But over the next 6 ½ minutes, Hampton outscored A&T 20-7 to cut the Aggies lead to 64-63 with 1:16 to play. Hampton's Jordan Nesbitt had 11 points during the spurt, including the three and the drive to the basket, making it a one-point game.
With 38 seconds remaining, Duke made one of two free throws to give the Aggies a two-point lead, but Raymond Bethea Jr. drove past his defender and scored on a layup to tie the game at 65. The Aggies had chances to win the game in regulation but missed back-to-back tip-in attempts to send the game into OT.
Hampton opened over time with a quick three by Marquis Godwin. But the Aggies took their first overtime lead thanks to a Love Bettis steal that turned into a transition layup for Powell and a 71-70 A&T lead. But Tre Thomas drove to the basket to put Hampton ahead again with 1:07 remaining.
"We have to continue improving on one-on-one defense and keeping guys from driving on us," said Shumpert. "We've got to take some pride on the defensive end. You have to care. You have to take pride in your matchup. It can't be I score on you; you score on me. We've got to get stops."
Watson found 6-foot-9 Austin Johnson inside for a layup with 51 seconds to play to give the Aggies a 73-72 advantage. After Godwin missed a jumper, Bettis was fouled and sent to the free throw line. But he missed both free throws leaving an opportunity for the Pirates to win the game before Watson's game-winning block.
"Rivalry games can be very, very exhausting," said Shumpert. "They fought all the way back and got it into overtime, but our guys battled it out and were able to get the win."
Shumpert complimented Powell and Johnson for their interior presence on Saturday. The Aggies outrebounded the Pirates 57-52, with Johnson scoring eight points and grabbing 11 rebounds. Bettis and Duke came off the bench to score 11 and 10, respectively. Nesbitt led the Pirates with 27 points.
