HAMPTON, Va. – Quinton Chievous and Reginald Johnson, Jr. scored 20 points each to lead Hampton to an 87-79 victory over Morgan State on Monday night in an ESPNU nationally televised contest at the HU Convocation Center.
 
The duo combined for 18 points in the second half to help the Pirates improve to 15-9 overall and remain atop the MEAC standings with a 10-2 conference mark.
 
Jervon Pressley recorded a double-double for the Pirates by posting 15 points with a game-high 10 rebounds off the bench. He also added a pair of blocks.
 
Phillip Carr paced the Bears with 17 points in the first half, before the Pirates limited him to 1-of-8 shooting in the second half. The sophomore finished the game with a season-high 21 points (3-6 3FG) and grabbed nine rebounds with a blocked shot.
 
Rasean Simpson also finished with a season-high 21 points (8-12 FG) and had seven boards for the Bears (5-19, 3-8). Andre Horne chipped in 13.
 
The Bears held its largest lead of the night when freshman guard Martez Cameron hit a pair of free throws to give his team a 20-13 lead with 12:50 remaining in the first half. But the Pirates battled back and it was a see saw affair until the final moments of the half. 
 
The Bears led 41-37 with 1:32 left following a pair of free throws by Andre Horne, but the Pirates closed the half on a 7-1 run, and entered the halftime with a 44-43 advantage.
 
The momentum continued for the Pirates in the second half as they began pulling away as the 7-1 run from the first half, grew into a 19-8 run. A dunk by Chievous with 15:05 remaining gave the Pirates a 56-49 lead.
 
Brian Darden hit a pair of 3-pointers and Chievous scored 10-straight points during a 16-4 spurt that made it 64-51 seven minutes later.
 
Two free throws by Rasean Simpson pulled MSU within five, 80-75, with 1:19 remaining, but the Bears got no closer.
 
The Bears will return to Baltimore for the first of three straight home games starting on Saturday, Feb. 20 with a 4 p.m. matchup against North Carolina Central. MSU will host N.C. A&T on Feb. 22, followed by Norfolk State on Feb. 24.

Bear Notes:
- The Bears bench was outscored by a 28-14 margin
- Cedric Blossom, the team's leading scorer, didn't score his first basket until the 8:40 mark in the second half ... he finished with 5 points (2-9 FG)