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GREENSBORO — The pressure of an eight-game winning streak finally got to N.C. A&T.

After building a 16-point halftime lead Monday night, the Aggies fell 59-58 to Hampton on a last-second shot by Darrion Pellum.

The Aggies didn't score for the final 6:10 of the game, and Pellum scored the Pirates' last six points to propel the comeback. Pellum tied for game-high honors with 14 points, while his teammate Michael Freeman also chipped in 14. Thomas Coleman led the Aggies (16-13, 9-6 MEAC) with 11 points.

With the Aggies ahead 39-23 to start the second half, Ed Jones opened the second half for the Aggies with a long 3-pointer for a 42-23 advantage. But the Pirates (14-15, 9-8) slowly cut into the lead to 50-41 on the strength of a 9-3 run. But Johnson hit free throw and another 3-pointer for the Aggies and the lead was back to 54-40 at the 11 minute mark.

The Pirates wouldn't quit, and their trapping defense was starting to get to the Aggies. A&T suddenly started to have trouble finding the basket. A 7-0 run allowed Hampton to cut the lead to 56-50. Coleman stopped the bleeding with a dunk off an offensive rebound and the lead was 58-50 with 6:10 remaining.

But the Pirates came right back with three straight points and cut the lead to 58-53. It looked like the Pirates would have a break away layup off a steal, but Hill stepped in front of a pass and went the other way. The ball was knocked out of bounds and Hampton was given possession again.

Darrion Pellum immediately took advantage of the Aggies miscue scoring on a baseline drive to cut the lead to 58-55 with 2:25 to play. A&T forced a missed shot, but turned it over the ensuing possession. Pellum drove and was fouled and hit two free throws with 50 seconds cutting the lead to 58-57.

The Aggies opened the game strong, sprinting out to a quick 10-2 lead behind four points from Dudley alum Robert Johnson and a 3-pointer by Smith alum Tavarus Alston. The Pirates got back into the game with a 3-pointer by Kwame Morgan and a short jumper by Brandon Tunnell, cutting the lead to 13-9.

A&T was able to stay in control thanks to a barrage of 3-pointers. Four different players hit from behind the line, including one each from Alston. Marc Hill and Dwane Joshua and two from Nick Wilson.

The Aggies press was also paying dividends.

Thomas Coleman had a steal and layup from the press, putting the Aggies up 29-16 with 7:51 to play. Wilson continued his strong play, scoring off a Coleman miss, giving him a game-high 10 points in the first half.

Later in the half, A&T's ball movement on offense was too much for the Pirates to handle. The Aggies patiently attacked the Pirates half-court zone trap, giving Johnson, Coleman and Kam Shepherd easy looks inside and helping the Aggies build a 39-23 halftime lead.

The Aggies shot 51 percent in the first half and enjoyed a 22-17 edge on the boards. But the roles were reversed in the second half and the Aggies only shot 27 percent. The Aggies full-court press and swarming man-to-man defense held the Pirates to 25 percent shooting, allowing them only eight field goals. A&T also forced 14 turnovers and had seven steals.

Other MEAC results:

NORFOLK STATE 85, HOWARD 71: Michael Deloach scored 25 points for host Norfolk State.

Deloach led four Spartans (10-17, 8-7) in double figures as Corey Lyon scored 23 points, Joseph Dorsett-Jeffreys added 14 and Aleek Pauline chipped in with 12.

Norfolk State led by as many as 13, 73-60, on a 3-pointer by Deloach with 5:20 remaining in the game.

After Howard (8-21, 5-10) took a 3-2 lead early in the game, the Bison never led again as the Spartans went on a 20-8 run sparked by 10 points from Deloach to take a 22-11 lead with 11:32 left in the first half.

The Spartans outrebounded Howard 36-23 with Pauline and Brandon Monroe grabbing 10 boards each.

Eugene Myatt paced the Bison with 20 points and Kyle Riley added 19. Randy Hampton and Paul Kirkpatrick added 15 and 10 points, respectively, for Howard.

SOUTH CAROLINA STATE 78, FLORIDA A&M 69: Jason Flagler scored 15 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in host South Carolina State's win over Florida A&M.

South Carolina State (15-13, 10-6) held the Rattlers to 39.6 percent shooting (25 of 63), and won the rebounding battle 49-22.

Carrio Bennett added 18 points, Josh Jackson scored 13 and Jessie Burton and Jimmy Williams tallied 11 each for the Bulldogs.

The Rattlers (7-20, 5-9) cut the deficit to 37-35 on a 3-pointer by David Buchanon with 35 seconds left in the first half and trailed 38-35 at halftime. The Bulldogs, though, improved their lead to as many as 71-58 on a layup by Flagler late in the second half.

Florida A&M was led by Buchanon with 18 points and Dale Hughes with 14. Brandon Bryant added 12 for the Rattlers.