For the Hofstra University men’s basketball team, a very emotional senior day was capped off with a 79-60 victory over the University of Delaware on Saturday afternoon.
Pre-game ceremonies honored Hofstra’s three seniors, guard Brad Kelleher, center Greg Washington and guard Charles Jenkins as a packed Mack Sports Complex looked on.
“Me and Charles were stretching before the game and the doors opened and we could see everyone running,” said Kelleher. “That gave me goosebumps.”
“I think me and Charles have been counting this down since the summer started,” said Washington. “For us to finish this this way I don’t think many people in our conference and around the basketball world wouldn’t have even thought of us finishing in the top four and for us to do that is the best feeling ever.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever been this nervous since I was a freshman,” said Jenkins. “There was too much emotion that in the first half it was hard to play. I was too busy thinking about knowing that this was my last game. Everybody that knows me knows that I stay here over the summer just to stay in the gym, it’s kind of like my home.”
Things became more emotional when Jenkins’ number 22 was unveiled up at the rafters to never be worn again by another member of the Pride.
“I think I’m starting to appreciate it more now that we won,” said Jenkins. “I know my brother is looking down on me. Twenty-two represents my brother’s age when he passed away so one of the things I thought about was this is my last game and me and him are going to be in the building together.”
There was still basketball to be played, and five early points from the day’s center of attention and Hofstra jumped out to a 7-3 lead.
“Once the game started everything went out because I had a guy in front of me that wanted to take my head off,” said Jenkins.
Seniors scored Hofstra’s first nine points of the game, this was a close start, with the Pride leading 9-7 with 4:52 gone in the first.
Delaware’s hot shooting set the pace thanks to senior guard Jawan Carter, driving through the heart of the Hofstra defense and taking a 17-13 lead.
Hofstra’s defense though woke up and with some stellar play from freshman guard Shemiye McLendon and sophomore guard Yves Jules sparked an 13-2 run capped off by a pretty mid-range jumper from senior center Greg Washington with 5:51 left in the half to give the Pride a 26-19 lead.
Unlike a majority of the season, Hofstra was winning the battle for rebounds as junior forward David Imes and Washington became forces under the basket.
A lay-up from junior Mike Moore with 1.3 seconds left sent Hofstra into the locker room with a 33-26 lead. Jenkins had 10 points to lead the Pride.
There was a frantic pace to start the second half as some sloppy play tampered with the flow of the game.
Two consecutive deep three-pointers from Jenkins and Kelleher put Hofstra up 13 at 44-31 with six minutes gone in the second. The Pride’s fast break was working on all cylinders; taking full advantage of Delaware’s missed opportunities.
The defense was playing spectacularly, not giving Delaware any easy looks at the basket.
Hofstra’s lead grew to 20 at 56-36 with 9:19 remaining as some great ball movement began opening up Delaware’s defense allowing for some easy looks under the basket.
Delaware began to panic, throwing up highly contested shots from long range as their deficit grew. Hofstra, more specifically Jenkins, had no trouble draining his shots no matter how many hands were in his face.
The Pride continued to control the rebounding game as well, a very promising sign going into postseason play.
Hofstra was performing with a certain swagger as the clock went under 10 minutes. There was a certain cool about the squad, making the hardest of plays look simple.
Delaware switched to a full-court press with six and a half minutes left in the game and after some initial success; Hofstra began to muscle through like it did all game.
McLendon showed some great ball handling skills, breaking some ankles in the process to set up his teammates with some easy looks. With 4:53 left, Hofstra still led big, 63-48.
Hofstra was still playing hard despite the big lead with less than three minutes remaining. The defense continued to play strong and the Pride continued to hustle.
With 58.6 seconds left, freshman forward Roland Brown was subbed in for a very emotional Jenkins, who had his head buried in his jersey, walking off the court to the adoration and applause of the fans who love him so much.
“I just didn’t want to get off the court,” said Jenkins.
“It’s an emotional time for all of us,” said head coach Mo Cassara. “It’s been a great ending to an unbelievable journey. Charles walking off the court and for him and I to be able to share that moment for all the time that we spent together on and off the court since we started was something that I don’t think any of us ever imagined would happen.”
A cast of freshman subs ran out the clock for Hofstra’s big win. Jenkins led the Pride with 21 points, Washington and Kelleher each had 12.
The Pride improves to 20-10 on the season and 14-4 in CAA play.
“It’s an amazing accomplishment to win 20 games and finish top four in the league,” said Cassara. “It’s a real credit to these guys, our staff and our administration for giving us the support we needed to be successful.”