Senior point guard Darius “Pee Wee” Gardner earned a three point play with 20 seconds left in regulation to put the Eagles permanently ahead of Hampton University. Two free throws from senior forward Kevin Panzer sealed a 64-60 victory for the Eagles over the Pirates.
"Pee Wee makes plays on his own,” head coach Mike Brennan said, according to a press release. “The final basket was not something we designed. We teach and encourage our guys to read the play as it happens, and it showed up at that time. He was terrific today."
The matchup remained close throughout both halves, and the lead changed hands 11 times. Both teams shot an impressive 50 percent from the floor, each hitting 24 of their 48 shots. AU (4-2, 0-0) won the rebounding battle 25 to 24, but Hampton (1-5), the preseason No. 2 team in the MEAC conference, still dominated play inside, scoring 28 points in the paint compared to the Eagles’ 18. However, the Eagles outshot the Pirates from the three-point line to negate Hampton’s strong play down low.
Gardner, junior guard Jesse Reed and senior guard John Schoof led the Eagles, as all three guards played the entire 40 minute game. Reed scored 21 points, 17 of those coming in the first half, and he grabbed seven rebounds. Gardner and Schoof had 18 points each, with Gardner shooting an efficient 8-9 from the field.
"We shot the ball well today, and [we] have to...in order to win,” Brennan said, according to a press release. “Hampton is a great team at the top of their league, so it was a good road victory,".
AU continues their holiday play on Nov. 29 when they play Columbia University in New York City.
