The Hofstra University men’s basketball team held off a furious 16- point comeback attempt by Drexel University to secure a 70-67 victory on Saturday, Jan. 3. The win extended the Pride’s winning streak to six games, marking it as Hofstra’s longest win streak since the Pride rattled off 12 straight victories during the 2022-23 season. Hofstra moved into a tie for first place in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) at 2-0 in conference play.
“Overall good performance by the guys,” said Hofstra head coach Speedy Claxton. “I thought we kind of took our foot off the gas in the second half and allowed them to creep back in. To these kid’s credit, they kept their composure, and we got the win.”
The Pride put on a first half masterclass at both ends of the floor. Hofstra’s offense continued to give opposing defenses issues, as its efficient shooting once again stood out. The Pride shot 51% from the field and knocked down 6-12 from beyond the arc.
The dynamic backcourt duo of freshman Preston Edmead and the nation’s No. 16 leading scorer, Cruz Davis, set the tone offensively in the opening 20 minutes. Edmead chipped in nine points on an efficient 3-4 shooting, while Davis led all scorers at the break with 11.
Despite a strong offensive start for the Pride, it was the defense that stood out most. Hofstra’s defense put the Dragons in a straitjacket, blowing up any momentum Drexel tried to build. The Dragons managed just 28% shooting from the field and an abysmal 2-13 from beyond the arc. With a scorching offense and a suffocating defensive effort, the Pride headed into the locker room holding a commanding 40-25 lead.
“[In the first half], we were making shots,” Claxon said. “We weren’t turning the ball over; I thought in the second half we were kind of hesitant shooting the basketball. Then we had too many live ball turnovers, which put us in transition defensive, and [Drexel] was able to attack and score.”
The 15-point halftime deficit did little to deter the Dragons, who came out of the locker room determined to claw their way back into the game. Drexel opened the second half with a blistering 17-4 run, quickly swinging momentum and slicing Hofstra’s lead to two points just over 12 minutes into the half. The comeback attempt was fueled by the Dragons’ leading scorer, Shane Blakeney, who capped his night with an impressive 18-point performance.
Undisciplined play nearly proved costly for the Pride. Hofstra committed nine turnovers, and Drexel capitalized on every mistake. The Dragons turned those errors into a staggering 18 points, while the Pride failed to score a single point off Drexel’s three turnovers.
Despite the furious comeback attempt, the Pride ultimately held on for the win. Davis lead all scorers with 20 points and once again proved himself to be amongst the elite players in college basketball.
With the victory over Drexel, Hofstra secured its sixth win in seven games played in Pennsylvania this season, marking the Pride’s fourth win in the city of Philadelphia.
Hofstra looked to continue its impressive momentum on Thursday, Jan. 8, on the road against Towson University at the SECU Arena. Tip-off was set for 12:30 p.m.
