Reginald Johnson #34 of the Hampton Pirates controls the ball as RaShawn Stores #12 of the Manhattan Jaspers defends during the first round of the 2015 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at UD Arena on March 17, 2015 in Dayton, Ohio. (Getty)
Final Score
Manhattan 31-33—64
Hampton 38-36—74
The first of the NCAA Tournament First Four games has come to an end. The opening matchup in Dayton saw Manhattan College vs. Hampton University in a fight to the finish for that No. 16 in the Midwest bracket – an unenvious spot as it sets them up against the only perfect team in the nation, No. 1 seed Kentucky.
Manhattan headed into play with an overall 19-13 record and 13-7 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. And Hampton finished out the regular season 16-17 overall and 8-8 Mid Eastern Athletic Conference record, which makes them just the ninth team with a losing record to advance to the NCAA Tournament since 2000.
Although OddsShark had Manhattan with the slight advantage and a projected 75-72 win, Hampton came away with the upset and reminded why you should never underestimate the underdog.
Check out complete stats here and review the key points in the game below.
Hampton Jumped Out to a Seven-Point Lead
Zane Waterman #4 of the Manhattan Jaspers and Brian Darden #14 of the Hampton Pirates battle for a loose ball in the first half during the first round of the 2015 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at UD Arena on March 17, 2015 in Dayton, Ohio. (Getty)
Despite being without their leading scorer Dwight Meikle, who injured his foot in their conference tournament game against Maryland-Eastern Shore, the Pirates started off with a 7-0 run and didn’t look back.
Big man Jervon Pressley came through with a strong baseline dunk to keep the Pirates going with a 16-10 lead.
And Hampton’s biggest lead came just under the 13-minute mark in the first half when Quinton Chievous took it in for a layup and gave the Pirates a 20-11 advantage over Manhattan.
Hampton Got Its Largest Lead with a Pair of Big Dunks
Deron Powers #11 of the Hampton Pirates brings the ball up the floor as Tyler Wilson #2 of the Manhattan Jaspers defends during the first round of the 2015 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at UD Arena on March 17, 2015 in Dayton, Ohio. (Getty)
Hampton got its biggest lead of the game – 10 points – when 6-foot-9 big man Charles Wilson-Fisher went up for the jam to put the Pirates atop the Jaspers, 30-20.
While Manhattan answered with a layup, Quinton Chievous had a response of his own. He, too, went up for the massive slam to put Hampton back up by 10.
Manhattan Chipped Away Heading into Halftime
Emmy Andujar #13 of the Manhattan Jaspers goes up to the basket as Quinton Chievous #3 of the Hampton Pirates defends during the first round of the 2015 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at UD Arena on March 17, 2015 in Dayton, Ohio. (Getty)
Down 35-23 with just under four minutes remaining in the first half, the Jaspers started chipping away at the deficit. Freshman forward Calvin Crawford got it going with a couple defensive rebounds, a layup and an assists. He was joined by fellow teammate Carlton Allen, who scored a couple jumpers down the stretch as well.
The Jaspers headed into the half down by seven, 38-31.
Manhattan Cut Its Deficit to Three Points Shortly After Halftime
Shane Richards #0 of the Manhattan Jaspers looks to pass the ball as Quinton Chievous #3 of the Hampton Pirates defends during the first round of the 2015 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at UD Arena on March 17, 2015 in Dayton, Ohio. (Getty)
Manhattan Head Coach Steve Masiello must have lit a fire under the you-know-what of his players at the half because the Jaspers have come out with a renewed energy.
First it was senior Rashawn Stores who got things going with a hustle layup to cut the score to 40-37. And after a Pirates’ basket, junior Ashton Pankey got in on the action with a massive dunk to bring the score to 42-39.
Hampton Took Advantage of Manhattan’s Foul Trouble
Charles Wilson-Fisher #31 of the Hampton Pirates pulls down a rebound against the Manhattan Jaspers during the first round of the 2015 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at UD Arena on March 17, 2015 in Dayton, Ohio. (Getty)
With 12:26 remaining in the game, Manhattan’s second-highest team scorer, Ashton Pankey, got his fourth personal foul. Pankey, who came into the game averaging 13.5 points and 6.7 rebounds per game, along with two other teammates had two fouls in the first half, which sidelined them on and off throughout the first 20 minutes.
As key players for the Jaspers were sidelined, Hampton took advantage. And it was like deja vu of the first half as the Pirates’ big men Quinton Chievous and Jervon Pressley each threw down a couple jams as the Pirates continued their momentum to stay atop the Jaspers.
Hampton’s Leading Scorer and Rebounder Quinton Chievous Went Down with Injury
Charles Wilson-Fisher #31 of the Hampton Pirates takes a shot against the Manhattan Jaspers during the first round of the 2015 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at UD Arena on March 17, 2015 in Dayton, Ohio. (Getty)
About midway through the second half, the Pirates’ Chievous – whose been a major factor in Hampton’s success – rolled his ankle brining the ball up the court. He was working through the Jaspers’ pressure defense when it happened and Hampton Head Coach Edward Joyner Jr. called a timeout.
Fastforward to just under the three-minute mark, and he went down again – this time screaming in pain and holding his knee. He was helped off the court and was tended to by trainers on the sidelines.
Chievous never returned to the game and finished with 15 points and 13 rebounds.
Hampton Never Gave Up the Lead
Emmanuel Okoroba #5 of the Hampton Pirates celebrates against the Manhattan Jaspers during the first round of the 2015 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at UD Arena on March 17, 2015 in Dayton, Ohio. (Getty)
From their 7-0 run to start off the game, all the way through to the final seconds of the contest, the Pirates never let up and never gave Manhattan a chance to take the lead in all 40 minutes of the game.
Although Hampton’s team-leading scorer and rebounder Quinton Chievous went out in the last three minutes with an ankle and knee injury, the Pirates didn’t skip a beat.
The game came down to the wire in Dayton, but the Pirates prevailed to claim the win and the bittersweet reward of getting the No. 16 in the Midwest bracket and having to face the perfect No. 1 seed Kentucky Wildcats.
Preview: Manhattan vs. Hampton in Game One of the First Four
Tyler Wilson #2 celebrates with Shane Richards #0 of the Manhattan Jaspers against the Hampton Pirates during the first round of the 2015 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at UD Arena on March 17, 2015 in Dayton, Ohio. (Getty)
The NCAA tournament gets started Tuesday night as Manhattan and Hampton square off in the First Four. The winner’s reward? A No. 16 seed, which quickly loses its luster because it sets up a date with the unbeaten Kentucky – and an almost-certain blowout loss – in the Round of 64.
Manhattan College is headed back to the NCAA Tournament for the second-straight year after earning an automatic bid for winning the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championship. Last season the Jaspers fell in a close game to Louisville in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, a game in which Head Coach Steve Masiello squared off against his former coach and mentor, Cardinals Head Coach Rick Pitino.
On the other side of the court is Hampton University, who just might be the biggest underdog of this year’s field of 68. Under the direction of head coach Edward Joyner Jr., the No. 6 seed Pirates defeated No. 5 seed Delaware State, 82-61, to clench the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament Championship and earn their first automatic bid since 2011.
Manhattan is heading into play with an overall 19-13 record and 13-7 in the MAAC. And the Pirates finished out the regular season 16-17 overall and 8-8 MEAC record, which makes them just the ninth team with a losing record to advance to the NCAA Tournament since 2000.
According to OddsShark, Manhattan edges this game out with a close 75-72 win.
