The Hofstra University men’s basketball team narrowly dropped the first game of their four-game road trip in Pennsylvania to Temple University 81-76. Early-season foul trouble once again proved costly for the Pride, with two players fouling out down the stretch.
“I thought the boys came out and played hard,” said Hofstra head coach Speedy Claxton. “I think 48 points in the second half is way too many points to give up on the road. The effort was there, but the execution wasn’t right.”
Despite holding Temple’s offense to a respectable 33 points during the opening 20 minutes, the Pride’s defense began to falter in the second half. The Owls cashed in 48 points after the break. This is the highest amount of points Hofstra has given up during a half all season long.
Temple also saw a significant jump in offensive production after halftime, with their field goal percentage improving from 46% in the first half to 54% in the second.
“We got into early foul trouble,” Claxton said. “[Preston Edmead] picked up two, [German Plotnikov] picked up two, and then at that point when they were in the game, we had the lead, but when they went out with two fouls, the defense wasn’t great.”
To start the season, Hofstra has struggled to maintain its defensive effort high, racking up unnecessary fouls that continue to hurt them late in games. As a team, Hofstra committed 24 fouls, gifting the Owls 31 free-throw attempts. Temple took full advantage of Hofstra’s defensive errors, with 24 of Temple’s 81 points coming from the free throws. Freshman sensation Edmead and 7-foot Silas Sunday both fouled out of the game.
For Hofstra, junior guard Cruz Davis put on an offensive clinic, clocking in all 40 minutes. Davis had a game-high 25 points, but it was his efficiency that stood out the most. Davis shot 50% from the field on 18 attempts and continued to dominate from beyond the arc, knocking down five out of 10 three-point shots, his second straight game shooting 50% from deep. He also added four assists without committing a single turnover.
“He played like a ‘go-to guy’ – ‘player of the year’ kind of guy,” Claxton said. “When he’s playing like that, we’re pretty hard to beat.”
Forward Joshua DeCady led the second unit all night, coming off the bench and making an immediate impact for the Pride. In just 19 minutes, he maximized his opportunities by scoring 13 points on 5-6 shooting, showing off the strength of Hofstra’s rotational depth.
“Huge bright spot off the bench,” Claxton said. “He came in and played with great physicality. He was confident shooting the basketball. I even thought he passed up some shots he should have took. As he continues to grow as a player and get more comfortable here with us, he’ll have games like this.”
The Pride looks to find themselves back in the win column against La Salle University. Although it’s recognized as a home game for Hofstra, they’ll be playing on the road at The Palestra for the Cathedral Classic. Tip-off is set for Friday, Nov. 28, at 2 p.m.
