MILWAUKEE — The Hampton Pirates showed plenty of fight in their 2025-26 season opener Monday night but couldn’t complete the comeback, falling 90-86 to Milwaukee on the road.

After trailing by as many as 14 points, the Pirates stormed back in the second half to pull within one late, but the Panthers held on with clutch free throws down the stretch to seal the win.

Daniel Johnson got Hampton rolling early, scoring the team’s first four points of the season as the Pirates battled to a 12-10 lead midway through the first half. Kody Williams, making his Hampton debut, buried a long three-pointer to cap a 5-0 run. But Milwaukee caught fire from beyond the arc, draining eight three-pointers in the opening half to take a 49-36 advantage into the break.

Jalyke Gaines-Wyatt led the Pirates’ firs

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