Head coach Speedy Claxton and the Hofstra University men’s basketball will face a tough first test in the mid-major market when the Princeton University Tigers come to town on Friday, Nov. 10. Both sides enter the marquee matchup with identical 1-0 records, eager to assert themselves as top contenders on the mid-major landscape with a resume-boosting win on Friday.
Hofstra ranked 84th in last season’s NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) rankings, while Princeton was not far behind at 93rd. Princeton is one of six NET top 100 teams that the Pride will square off with this season.
Princeton is coming off a banner 68-61 win over Rutgers University to open their season, in a game that saw the Tigers knock down 45% of their 3-pointers and out-rebound the Scarlet Knights by 12. The winning effort was spearheaded by senior guard Matt Allocco, who racked up 21 points and nine rebounds, while shooting a nice 69% from the floor. Xaivian Lee and Zach Martini were the only other Tigers to score in double figures, with 16 and 10 points, respectively.
Hofstra handled a much easier task in their season opener, cruising past Division III Saint Joseph’s University, New York by a score of 101-48. The Pride shot 53% from the field and 42% from 3-point range in the win, en route to scoring over 100 points for the first time since Dec. 12, 2021. Tyler Thomas led all scorers with 26 points, knocking down eight 3-pointers over just 19 minutes of action.
The Pride topped the Tigers 83-77 in an instant classic to open last season at Jadwin Gymnasium, in a win that proved to be more impressive for Hofstra as the season went on. Following the loss, Princeton claimed the Ivy League Championship and embarked on an improbable run to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament, finishing with a 23-9 overall record. This year’s matchup will prove to be much different, as the last game’s four top scorers – Aaron Estrada, Keeshawn Kellman, Ryan Langborg and Tosan Evbuomwan – have all departed their respective programs.
Tip-off at the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex is set for 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 10. The game will be televised on MSG2, while the radio-only broadcast will be available on 88.7 FM WRHU.
Photo courtesy of Matteo Bracco/Hofstra Athletics
