On Sunday, Dec. 21, the Hofstra University men’s basketball team extended their winning streak to four games with a 74-66 win over Quinnipiac University. The win was led by the two-headed backcourt monster in Cruz Davis and Preston Edmead. The Pride wrapped up non-conference play with a 9-4 record, the best under head coach Speedy Claxton.
“Big time win,” Claxton said. “We came in and handled business. We beat a really good Quinnipiac team. I thought we got some great production from a bunch of people. Biggie [Patterson] was great off the bench. We owned the glass in the second half, and that was the biggest key coming into the game.”
Hofstra struggled to generate offense in the first half, but Davis put the team on his back. Davis, the nation’s No. 12 scorer, scored 20 of the Pride’s 31 first-half points and, aside from two late Joshua DeCady free throws, was the only starter to score in the first half. Davis has been the go-to guy for the Pride all season, and he went off for a game-high 27 points on 10-for-20 shooting. This performance marked his seventh game this season with 20 or more points.
“I was just being aggressive,” Davis said. “I was taking what the defense gave me.”
Following a tough first half, the second piece of Hofstra’s elite backcourt answered the call. Freshman Edmead, who was held scoreless early, caught fire after halftime and made the Bobcats defense pay, finishing with 18 points and four assists.
Despite a strong showing from Claxton’s backcourt, the rest of the offense struggled, as the team shot just 37% from the field. Still, Hofstra’s shooting struggles didn’t slow their aggressiveness on the offensive glass. The Pride dominated Quinnipiac on the boards, pulling down 21 offensive rebounds to the Bobcats’ 11 and turning those extra chances into a staggering 28 second-chance points.
Senior guard Biggie Patterson provided a massive spark off the bench, pouring in 11 points and grabbing five rebounds in 25 minutes as he continues to cement his role within this Hofstra team.
“[Patterson] had a rough first half,” Claxton said. “He didn’t let it affect him. He came out and stayed aggressive. He makes huge plays in the second half for us.”
Beyond the win for Claxton and company, it was a meaningful afternoon for the Hofstra program as Quinnipiac head coach Tom Pecora returned to Hempstead, New York. Pecora spent 16 years on Hofstra’s coaching staff – rising from assistant to associate head coach before leading the Pride as head coach for nine seasons. He is the longest-tenured coach in program history.
Pecora became emotional as he reflected on his return to Hofstra.
“It was cool [being back at Hofstra]. I mean, you saw how many of my friends and family were here. It was cool. It was nice to be back. I think the world of [Claxton] and his staff,” Pecora said. “I never should have left. [It was] my midlife crisis. This is a great place. I am so happy that one of my guys is here running it, keeping it great.”
Hofstra kicks off Coastal Athletic Association play against Campbell University on Monday, Dec. 29, at the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
