Total Team Effort Leads To Win Over Hampton For Men's Basketball

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – It took a total team effort as Kehlin Farooq led four players in double figures off the bench as Texas Southern ended the Boost Mobile HBCU Challenge on a positive note with an 82-77 win over Hampton on Sunday.

Hampton used the long ball to lead early but TSU had success from beyond the arc also as they tied it at 12-all after a Joirdon Karl Nicholas dunk. Nicholas would carry TSU after the first media timeout with an assortment of offensive moves but like the first four minutes, Hampton would find ways to score as the teams were tied at 18-all entering the second media timeout.

The next four minutes were evenly played as Nicholas scored four of TSU’s next six points while Hampton remained hot from the outside plus a three-point play via a drive to lead 28-24 after the third media timeout.

Zytarious Mortle hit a three-pointer to draw TSU within 28-27 and John Walker III drew a charge and scored on the ensuing possession to move TSU back ahead 29-28 at the 5:06 mark. Hampton’s Raymond Bethea, Jr. scored off a driving layup to regain the lead but Walker III answered with a floater in the paint to regain a 31-30 lead. The TSU defense forced a Hampton turnover on the next possession to enter the final media timeout ahead by one.

With two TSU starters hampered with two fouls each, Walker III kept in the contest with four points over the final 3:50 coupled with a Kehlin Farooq putback. TSU had a 36-32 lead with 2:43 remaining but couldn’t capitalize on some key scoring opportunities to extend its lead. Hampton would outscore TSU 5-1 during that span as both teams went into the halftime break tied at 37-all as it would mark the second straight afternoon the Tigers went into the break tied.

Hampton opened the second half with a 6-1 run to lead 43-38 but TSU came roaring back. Nicholas and Walker III both scored and drew TSU to within 43-42 at the first media timeout as the contest would become physical coupled with high emotions during that span between both teams as a double technical was issued.

Nicholas’ layup off a PJ Henry assist moved TSU ahead 44-43 with 15:05 remaining but Hampton’s Daniel Bannister, Jr. was fouled on a three-point attempt and hit 2-of-3 to move HU ahead 45-44. With Walker III and Nicholas both in foul trouble with four apiece, the physicality of the contest continued as points were hard to come by but TSU managed to move ahead as Kehlin Farooq had several big baskets to push TSU ahead 52-49 which forced a Hampton timeout with 10:26 left.

Farooq, who attended Hampton as a freshman, kept up his offense as he drained a three for a 55-49 lead but Hampton answered with a tough jumper to trail 55-51. The Pirates closed the gap to 55-53 but TSU suffered a huge blow as Nicholas was whistled for his fifth foul while diving for a loose ball at halfcourt with 7:55 left.

Bannister, Jr. tied the game with two free throws after the foul but Farooq ended the two-minute scoring drought with a trey to move TSU ahead 58-55. However, Walker III suffered his fifth foul while contesting a rebound and Hampton managed to record a three-point play to tie it at 58-all at the 7:14 mark.

Farooq and Hampton traded buckets followed by a Hampton goaltending call as TSU moved back on top 62-61. Hampton’s Jordan Nesbitt countered with a three-pointer but TSU’s Shaquir O’Neal hit two free throws followed by Davon Barnes’ four straight points in the paint to move the Tigers back ahead 68-67 at the 3:49 media timeout.

Barnes finished an and-one to up the margin to 69-67 and Chris Craig drew a huge charge to retake possession. Farooq continued his stellar play with another trey to lead 72-67 but Hampton hit a quick driving layup to stay within 72-69.

Playing their entire bench, everyone would contribute for the Tigers as Kolby Granger scored off a putback while Craig scored off another putback as TSU led 76-69 with 1:52 left. After a missed TSU bucket, the Tiger defense forced a jump ball which led to a dunk from Barnes and a 78-69 lead. Hampton answered with a trey to draw within 78-72 and went with the foul strategy as Granger hit 1-of-2 for a 79-72 margin.

Hampton scored quickly again but PJ Henry’s two free throws kept TSU ahead 81-74. Hampton refused to go away with another three-pointer but TSU buckled down and ended the event on a high note as they pulled out the win over its CAA opponent.

Farooq scored 19 points on 8-of-9 shooting while grabbing eight rebounds. Nicholas scored 17 points and grabbed five rebounds while Walker III scored 12 points. Barnes added 11 and grabbed five rebounds.

TSU is back in action on Thursday night at Wichita State for a 7 p.m. start in Wichita, Kansas.