By Joe Pantorno, Sports Editor
NEWARK, DE—Fifteen feet from the basket, two uncontested chances for points. But at the free throw line, there is so much pressure especially late in the game. On Wednesday night, the Hofstra men’s basketball team dropped its third straight Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) game, 67-66 to the University of Delaware after sophomore guard Shemiye McLendon missed the game-tying free throw with 2.1 seconds left in the game.
Hofstra (6-9) would never have gotten to that point if it was not for a long, methodical comeback from 15 points down led by senior guard Mike Moore’s 24 points and 15 from senior forward Nathaniel Lester.
“I told our guys the game wasn’t lost in the last couple of minutes,” said Cassara. “It was lost in the first half. We dug ourselves a there.”
Delaware forward Jamelle Hagins was an unstoppable force down low, scoring and collecting rebounds with ease as an undersized Hofstra team could not provide any answers for the 6’9″ junior.
“They came out of the gate blazing. They lost three in a row coming into this game and they fought hard for it tonight,” said Cassara. “He [Hagins] has vastly improved. He’s so much better than he was last year. He is so much more win.”
Seven straight points from Moore paced the Pride with Delaware, keeping the game tied at 65 with 1:43 left.
With Saddler missing a three-pointer for Delaware, Hofstra had a chance to take the lead for the first time in the game with 22 seconds left and Moore going to the line.
He missed both.
“As I always say, free throws are going to win or lose us a game,” said Hofstra head coach Mo Cassara.
Hagins was fouled on the rebound by sophomore forward Stephen Nwaukoni, who led Hofstra with 12 rebounds, went to the free throw line, and sunk both of his shots with 20 seconds left.
Hofstra still had the chance to tie again and force the game into overtime. Moore missed a jumper that was rebounded by junior forward David Imes who went up for a lay-up, but his attempt was blocked and sent rocketing out of bounds by Hagins with six seconds left.
The ensuing inbound pass went into McLendon who went up for a jumper from the left corner but was fouled with 2.1 seconds remaining. He made the first to bring it to within one but missed the second.
Hagins brought in the rebound on the missed free throw and was sent to the charity stripe again with .9 seconds left. He missed both free throws, but there was not enough time as Imes heaved up a full court prayer that bounced well short of the basket.
“We have to shake it off,” said Cassara. “We get a day of rest and then we head down to Wilmington and try to find a way to win down there on