Even without leading scorer Aaron Estrada, the Hofstra men’s basketball team remained the dominant force on Long Island and in the CAA with a 79-58  win over Stony Brook on Saturday to establish their longest winning streak of the year at five games. 

Estrada missed his fourth game of the season on Saturday with an undisclosed illness that forced Hofstra to alter their gameplan just hours before tip-off.

“We just found out this morning,” said Hofstra head coach Speedy Claxton. “He came in and said he was feeling a little bit under the weather. We tried to nurse him back, but we had to do what was best for him. He just couldn’t go, so it was next man up mentality.”

That next man up for Hofstra was Tyler Thomas, who had a double-double in the game to lead the Pride with 29 points to go along with 11 rebounds. 

“I just try to get to my spots and be aggressive,” Thomas said. “I’m pretty aggressive to start games, and without Estrada in the game today, I knew I had to stay aggressive. The coaching staff and my teammates have belief in me, so I believe in myself.”

Thomas came out of the gates on fire, scoring 12 of the Pride’s first 16 points, with his shots falling early and often. The Pride seemed to have things under wraps entering halftime leading by 11 but opened the second half by surrendering an 8-0 run to Stony Brook that allowed the Seawolves back into the contest, making it a 41-37 game. 

With Estrada unavailable, Hofstra had to rely heavily on its depth to stay in control. Warren Williams was once again a force beneath the rim with 14 points. In Estrada’s absence, Bryce Washington got the start and added another 14, while German Plotnikov also contributed 14 of his own off the bench. 

“They’ve been consistent,” Claxton said. “They’ve been in the gym getting extra shots, and their hard work is paying off. There are going to be different guys from game to game, and I keep telling these guys that’s what’s going to play. So if you’re in the gym playing, putting in the work, the results will show.”

Despite the big numbers from Thomas, Williams, Washington and Plotnikov, a season-high 10 rebounds from point guard Jaquan Carlos stuck out the most to Claxton in the win. 

“It’s tough to get 10 rebounds as a guard,” Claxton said.

“We got to keep getting better at rebounding,” Carlos said. “I knew Warren, Nelson [Boachie-Yiadom] and [Darlinston Dubar] would be boxing out, so I knew I could help them by just getting my nose dirty.” 

It’s full team efforts like the one Hofstra had on Saturday that has carried them throughout this recent winning streak, and it’s what they’ll need to continue to have if they wish to lock up the conference with just six games left in the regular season.

The Pride will next be in action on Wednesday when they travel to face Northeastern. Until then, Claxton and his team can bask in the glory of victory over their Long Island rival.

“All I have to say is that the Island is blue.” 

Photo courtesy of Evan Bernstein/Hofstra Athletics