On Saturday, the Pride wrapped up their regular season with a 71-66 victory over the Dukes of James Madison University. Although Hofstra head coach Joe Mihalich and his team were able to pick up the win, it was a game neither team had much to gain from.
Sophomore standout Justin Wright-Foreman had another game in which he led the team in scoring.
The young shooting guard from Queens shot just 8-23 from the field and was a mere 1-10 from long range, contributing to a Hofstra effort of 5-27 (18.5 percent) from beyond the arc. That being said, he did make important contributions: 19 points, a pair of assists and five rebounds.
Wright-Foreman’s scoring output is now at an even 18.0 points per game for the regular season, which is easily good for first on the team, and third in the conference.
Junior Rokas Gustys also closed out his third regular season with Hofstra with nothing other than an extremely efficient double-double. Gustys tacked on 15 points and 14 rebounds for the team on Saturday by shooting a solid 5-7 from the field and 5-9 from the charity stripe.
For Gustys, it was his 11th and final double-double on the regular season, easily giving him the title of the conference’s leading rebounder. He also nationally ranked fourth in rebounds per game (12.2).
When Coach Mihalich was asked about how the past two road wins will impact their fortunes in the coming week with the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) tournament now just days away, he stated, “We say it all year long, when the tournament comes, you want to feel like you can win the tournament. I know Wilmington and Charleston feel that way, and that’s how you want to feel. But we’re playing as good as we’ve played all year long, we’re as healthy as we’ve been all year long and our kids have some pep in their step.”
Senior guards Deron Powers and Brian Bernardi were able to close out their collegiate regular season careers with a combined 27 points, seven rebounds and six assists. All season long it seemed as though if one would be having a slightly off night, the other would make sure to be playing for both of them. Tonight, it was Powers, dropping in 13 points, and shooting an efficient 5-8 in the game.
Yet the best late-game guard play on the evening, should deservingly go to the freshman Eli Pemberton, whose clutch shots and free throws kept Hofstra in the game with JMU, constantly nipping at their heels.
Pemberton had a modest 11-point outing, but with the view Hofstra fans have had of him this season, needless to say next season will be one in which Pemberton could very well make a case for a Conference Player of the Year bid, along with Wright-Foreman.
Up next for Hofstra is the opening round of the CAA Tournament in Charleston, South Carolina where the Pride will first take on the Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens (12-19).
Tip-off for that contest is set for Friday night at 6 p.m. at the North Charleston Coliseum.
