HAMPTON, Va. – The Apprentice School men's basketball team took on NCAA Division I Hampton University Tuesday night at the Convocation Center, falling 67-56. The Builders never stopped competing against the Pirates, answering an early run, cutting into the lead in both halves and giving Hampton problems with their defense, rebounding and effort inside.
Donovan Means gave Apprentice the first lead of the night, hitting a three-pointer on the Builders' first possession of the game. Hampton answered with a run to go up 17-3, but the Builders responded. Over the final 12 minutes of the first half, Apprentice outscored the Pirates 22-16, with Means, Jabari Brackett and Wayne Hedgepeth leading the charge. Hedgepeth's fast-break layup with under two minutes remaining made it 23-28, and the Builders went into the break trailing just 33-25.
Hampton built a 22-point lead early in the second half, but Apprentice kept fighting. The Builders outscored the Pirates 25-14 over the final 12 minutes, getting a Devon Brown layup, a Jaylen Jenkins and-one and back-to-back baskets from Means to cut the deficit to 53-60 with 3:03 to play. Along the way, Apprentice held Hampton to 34.5 percent shooting from the field and 27.3 percent from three-point range.
The Builders won the battle in the paint, outscoring the Pirates 30-18 inside, and led 17-5 in points off turnovers. They also attacked the glass with 19 offensive rebounds, matching Hampton with 23 second-chance points.
Means led Apprentice with 14 points, three three-pointers, three assists and two steals. Brown added 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting and pulled down nine rebounds, six of them offensive. Jahlil Hope scored 11 points, including a three-pointer and a fast-break layup in the second half. Brackett provided a spark off the bench with seven points, five rebounds and a steal, and Jenkins finished with three assists and two steals.
The Builders return to action this Saturday, Nov. 14, when they travel to William Peace University for a 2 PM showdown with the Pacers in Raleigh, N.C..
