Hampton University achieved its first 2-0 Coastal Athletic Association start in dramatic fashion, edging Towson 63-62 Wednesday at the HU Convocation Center.
Jalyke Gaines-Wyatt’s driving layup and free throw with 28 seconds remaining provided the game’s final points.
As the Pirates improved to 8-7, the Tigers (8-7) — the favorites in the coaches’ poll to win the CAA — dropped to 0-2 in the league, having lost Monday at William & Mary.
Gaines-Wyatt had 15 points, three assists and three rebounds for Hampton, Elijah Kennedy had 14 points, four assists, four rebounds and three steals, and Daniel Johnson had 14 points and eight rebounds.
Preseason CAA Player of the Year Tyler Tejada led Towson with 16 points.
HU outscored Towson 17-5 to go ahead 35-27 and led 37-31 at the half.
The Tigers took their first second-half lead at 48-47 with 11:23 when Jaquan Womack made a layup, and the margins were razor-thin after that.
Gaines-Wyatt’s driving layup pulled HU even with 1:17 on the clock, but Caleb Embeya’s 12-footer put Towson ahead 62-60 with 41 seconds to go. Gaines-Wyatt countered with a layup at 0:28 off a Kennedy pass, drawing a foul and converting the free throw.
Dylan Williamson missed a driving layup, but HU’s Kody Williams was cited for being out of bounds as he tried to chase down and secure the rebound. Towson got one more chance, but Tejada missed a step-back 18-footer that hit the rim and bounced off the top of the backboard.
HU missed a free throw, but the buzzer sounded during a scramble for the rebound. Pirates coach Ivan Thomas excitedly pumped and clenched his fists toward the crowd as the players went through the handshake line.
Hampton improved its home winning streak to nine games as an early birthday present for Thomas, who turns 51 on New Year’s Day.
“It was a physical game but we were ready for that,” Thomas said on hamptonpirates.com. “I think our schedule gave us an advantage. We played five very physical teams and we were used to that style of play.”
Hampton played without the services of its leading scorer, Michael Eley, and Josh Ogundele, who sat out the game due to illness.
The Pirates begin a three-game road stretch at 7 p.m. Saturday at UNC Wilmington.