When Maryland Eastern Shore last saw the Hampton Pirates, they watched them celebrate a 76-71 victory at Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia. The loss put a quick end to the Hawks' aspirations of a trip to the NCAA Tournament to cap an 18-win season.

"It came down to a moment of truth and just believing," head coach Bobby Collins said. "We were at the free throw line with two free throws to shoot and we missed both.

The Hawks (7-16, 4-4 MEAC) are coming off an 85-67 win at home against Howard and have won three straight, but Feb. 6 at 4 p.m. they welcome the MEAC-leading Pirates.

Devin Martin (Baltimore, Maryland) leads the Hawks in scoring at 16.8 points per game, while Dominique Elliott (Savannah, Georgia) adds 13.2 points per game and 7.0 rebounds and Bakari Copeland (Decatur, Georgia) averages 10.1 points.

"There is no better time to start gelling than now," Collins said. "We have seven games left in the season and we can feel the sense of urgency. The very things we have been talking about since Day 1, they are just starting to understand and see it. We have got to play with the same sense of urgency Saturday, not because it's Hampton is my former school, but because it's the next game and we are preparing for those three games in March."

Collins may be more familiar with Hampton than any other program in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference thanks to his 11 seasons with the Pirates including four as a head coach, but he's also never beaten them.

He concluded his career at Hampton with a 65-57 mark and 45-27 record in the MEAC. In his last year with Hampton (2005-06), Collins led HU to its third MEAC Championship and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The Pirates fell to Monmouth in the opening-round game to conclude the year with a 16 win season.
"I will always have a familiarity because of their leader (President)," Collins said. "Dr. (William) Harvey is a great man -- an ambitious man and he has instilled a winning mentality throughout the whole university and he taught me how to have that same winning mentality."

The Pirates (13-8, 8-1 MEAC) have won eight of their last nine games after Tuesday's 69-67 win over Washington Adventist in their last non-conference game of the season. Hampton is also in first place in the MEAC. Ten players returned from last season's NCAA Tournament team.

Hampton is led by its senior backcourt in Reginald Johnson Jr. and Brian Dardin. Johnson averages 18.3 points, 3.6 assists and 3.7 rebounds and leads the team in steals. Dardin scores at a 14.1 points-per-game clip and has made 57 shots from behind the 3-point arc, where he shoots 33 percent.

"They are extremely talented," Collins said. "We have guys that play hard and are talented. I think there is going to be a moment of truth because I think our guys have the potential of being really good too."
But the experienced front court also presents a tough matchup inside for Elliott and the Hawks.

"I believe that Dom is the best big man in our league by far," Collins said. "But Quinton Chievous is a very talented four. Any time you can get 20 points and 20 rebounds then you are a high motor player. (Jervon) Pressley, their five man, is a shot blocker and more of a catch and finish kind of guy than a post player. Pressley is an anchor for them inside, but Chievous is their guy. As he goes, they go."

Chievous (6-foot-8, 215 pounds) averages 17.1 points and 10.3 rebounds per game and plays all over the floor.

"They have a big three and we have a big three," Collins said. "Every team that is at the top has a big three. We know what we need to do. We'll be prepared and we'll be OK."

After Hampton, Norfolk State visits Feb. 8 at 7:30 p.m. Then the Hawks hit the road again for Delaware State on Feb. 13 at 4 p.m. and Howard on Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. All are the second half of a men's and women's doubleheader.

All games can be heard locally on Fox Sports Radio 960 AM WTGM or on www.umeshawks.com. Brendan Gulick and David Byrd will have the call from the Hytche Center on the Hawks Sports Radio Network.