HAMPTON — Before Thursday night, Etienne Strothers had reached double figures in four of Hampton University’s 22 games. Everyone knew he had the talent. It was just a matter of putting things together.
Or, as Pirates coach Ivan Thomas put it, “he was trying to figure out his role.”
Based on his past two outings, his role is making big shots. Two nights after setting a career high of 18 points in a win over Elon, Strothers matched it in Hampton’s 77-74 win over William & Mary on Saturday at the Convocation Center.
His biggest shot of the night — the biggest shot of the night — came with 1:07 remaining on a 3-pointer that gave the Pirates a 74-72 lead. It came following an offensive rebound by and assist from Elijah Kennedy.
It was the eighth and final lead change of the day, and the Pirates (12-13, 6-6 CAA) finished 2-0 on their homestand.
“I’m so happy for him,” Thomas said of Strothers. “He got off to a rough start at the beginning of the year. I think he was overthinking it … In these last two games, he’s getting to what he’s capable of doing.”
Strothers came in shooting 28.6% from the 3-point arc, but he was 4 of 6 Saturday. And with the game on the line, he didn’t hesitate.
“That’s the best time to take open 3s, off an offensive rebound,” Strothers said. “We get a lot of them. … By the time (Kennedy) threw it to me, I knew I was shooting it.”
Kennedy and Xzavier Long added 13 points each (Long also had 14 rebounds) and Josh Ogundele finished with 10.
It was the first time this season Hampton won after trailing (39-35) at halftime.
“The coaching staff, we’re aware of that stat,” Thomas said. “We don’t necessarily pay attention to it. … Three or four points shouldn’t make a difference when you’re down, but it does feel good to finally win one.”
Although Hampton got outscored 42-22 in the paint, it outrebounded W&M 37-29, including 12-5 on the offensive end.
The Tribe (15-9, 6-6), which under second-year coach Brian Earl has relied heavily on the 3-pointer, was 1 of 15 from the arc. It was W&M’s fewest 3-pointers since going 0 for 12 against Charleston on Jan. 16, 2023.
“We’re a thirty-something percent 3-point shooting team, and most of them were wide open,” Earl said. “We practice them every day. We weren’t able to make them today. One for 15, I think, is an anomaly.”
W&M led most of the second half and by as many as eight points, but Strothers’ 3-pointer at the 1:07 mark gave the Pirates the lead for good. Kennedy’s breakaway dunk off a turnover was the exclamation point.
The Tribe had a chance to tie on its final possession, but Kyle Pulliam was short on a 3-pointer at the horn.
Hampton won despite playing its fourth consecutive game without top scorer Michael Eley, who has been battling a turf-toe injury. Eley, a transfer from Tulane, last played on Jan. 24 at UNC Wilmington.
