Preview: Hofstra men’s basketball takes on Towson for Homecoming game

Eric Leaf, Staff Writer • February 3, 2024

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In a pivotal Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) matchup, the Hofstra University men’s basketball team is set to face the Towson University Tigers on Saturday, Feb. 3, in the Pride’s eighth conference matchup, at the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex.

Hofstra looks to continue their winning streak after Thursday night’s electric 72-71 win over the Stony Brook Seawolves. Graduate guard Tyler Thomas led all scorers with 26 points along with the game-winning shot with 0.4 seconds left. Thomas wasn’t the only scorer of the night, as German Plotnikov put up a career-high 17 points, 12 of those coming from behind the arc. Plotnikov knocked down four triples on 80% shooting from the 3-point line. The Pride are 4-1 in their last five games and are currently tied for the fifth seed in the CAA. Hofstra is two and a half games out of the number one seed in the conference.

The Towson University Tigers come into Saturday night’s game as one of the CAA’s hottest teams, winning eight of their last 10. Towson is currently sitting second in the CAA standings, only a half-game behind the conference leader, the Drexel University Dragons. The Tigers are led by their double-digit scoring trio of Christian May, Nendah Tarke and Tyler Tejada. One of the biggest factors in Towson’s 83-76 win over their conference rival, the Northeastern University Huskies, was the production off the bench from Dylan Williamson, who dropped 26 points and led all scorers in that game.

A big point of emphasis for Hofstra coming into Saturday’s game will be their work on the glass. Rebounding for the Pride has been an issue all year with Hofstra only grabbing 33.5 rebounds per game, tied for a woeful 361st in the country. When Hofstra out-rebounds their opponents, they are 5-2, but when their opponents out-rebounded them, they are 7-8. On the other hand, Towson is one of the nation’s best rebounding teams, registering a staggering 39.8 boards a game, sitting at 51st in the entire NCAA.

Saturday kicks off the 77th contest between the Pride and the Tigers, and Hofstra has won 47 of them. Last season’s meeting resulted in a 76-72 win for the Pride.

Tip-off at the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex is set for 6 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 3, and will air on the CBS Sports Network.

Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics/Matteo Bracco

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About the Contributor

Eric Leaf, Staff Writer

Eric Leaf is a junior journalism major with a minor in film studies. He began his journey with The Chronicle as a sophomore, where he covered a wide range of sports, including women’s basketball, baseball, and softball. With a deep passion for basketball, Eric dedicated himself to climbing the ranks within The Chronicle, ultimately earning the role of the Hofstra men’s basketball beat reporter. In addition to Eric’s work with the paper, he is also one of the newest producers and on-air co-hosts of 88.7 FM WRHU’s The Pro Take. Eric can also be heard on other WRHU sports talk shows as a featured panelist.