History was made on Tuesday, March 10, for the Hofstra University men’s basketball team. With everything on the line, the Pride captured the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) Men’s Basketball Tournament championship for the first time since 2020, punching their long-awaited ticket to the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament for the first time since 2001.
“This moment is so surreal,” said Hofstra head coach Speedy Claxton. “It means so much to myself, this program [and] this university. We started the game off slow, even in the second half, we came out of the gates slow. These kids never wavered; they stayed confident, and I can’t say enough about them … I won a championship at every level … [but] my collegiate championship meant the most to me.”
Hofstra sealed the title with a gritty 75-69 victory over Monmouth University, finishing the job in a hard-fought battle that required resilience from start to finish. Once again, CAA Rookie of the Year Preston Edmead rose to the moment, taking control when it mattered most, leading the Pride to a championship that will be remembered as one of the most significant victories in program history.
All tournament long, opposing teams threw everything they had at Edmead in a desperate attempt to slow the freshman phenom. None of it worked. The Long Island native continued his unforgettable run, and the Hawks were the latest team left searching for answers.
Less than 24 hours after drilling a buzzer-beating 3-pointer in overtime to send the Pride to the title game, Edmead stepped onto the floor in the championship with a singular focus – win. The star point guard never left the court, playing all 40 minutes while delivering a performance worthy of the moment. Edmead poured in a game-high 26 points while adding four rebounds and four assists, once again putting the Pride on his shoulders when it mattered most.
Edmead was named to the All-Tournament Team as well as the most outstanding performer of the entire tournament.
In response to being asked how to stop him, Edmead said, “You can’t.”
Four-year program veteran German Plotnikov has built a reputation this season for delivering when the moment is biggest, and the championship stage was no different. With 59 seconds remaining and the Pride clinging to a slim 66-65 lead, Plotnikov stepped into the moment once again. The veteran pulled up from beyond the arc and buried a clutch 3-pointer, a dagger that sealed the championship for the Pride.
Plotnikov ended the night with 10 points and two triples.
“It means a lot,” Plotnikov said. “It’s been an amazing four years with [the Pride]. We took a lot of losses on this court during elimination games, but this year is not the year to do so.”
The Pride were able to weather the Hawks’ offensive surge, as four players reached double figures, led by guard Kavion McClain, who finished with 19 points on the game.
Hofstra’s next opponent remains unknown, but one thing is certain: the Hofstra men’s basketball team will soon take the floor on the biggest stage in college basketball. On Selection Sunday, March 15, the Pride will learn their first matchup in the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament.
