The Hofstra University men’s basketball team fell 77-70 to the University of South Florida (USF) Bulls to extend their losing streak to four on Monday, Dec. 19.

 “Lack of toughness, simple as that,” said Hofstra men’s basketball head coach Speedy Claxton. “We will not beat anybody if we don’t get tougher.”

 Hofstra star player Aaron Estrada returned from a two-game absence to score a game-high 21 points. He was flanked by Darlinstone Dubar and Tyler Thomas, who provided 17 points each.

 Estrada showed no signs of rust, shooting 50% from the field and putting up 12 points in the first half. Dubar also added 12 points in the first frame, half of which were key in keeping the Pride in the game. Dubar scored the last six points of the half for the Pride, bringing the game to a 39-39. The Bulls held the lead for 17 out of the 20 minutes in the half but the Pride clawed back to stay in the game.

 Dubar started the second half how he finished the first – with a dunk – to give Pride the lead. It was a back-and-forth affair when a pair of Thomas 3-pointers gave the Pride its largest lead, 58-52. Hofstra held the lead for just over seven minutes until USF regained it with a 6-0 run. Estrada scored eight straight points for the Pride, but Russel Tchewa and Harris were too much for the star guard. The Pride mustered up just three points in the final four minutes.

 “We [need to] get back to the basics,” Claxton said. “It’s a shame because we are better than that team.”

The Pride shot better than the Bulls at the field, 3-pointer and free throw lines but still couldn’t come away with the win. The Bulls made up for it with their points off turnovers and rebounding, nearly doubling the Pride in both of those statistics. The Bulls had four players with over six rebounds, helping them grab 40 rebounds to Hofstra’s 24. USF scored 23 points off turnovers compared to 12 points from the Pride. Along with the rebounding came second-chance points for the Bulls, who outscored Hofstra 19 to two in second-chance points.

“More than half their points came off our turnovers and offensive rebounds,” Claxton said. “We’re doing the hard part, we’re guarding, but then we just give up the offensive rebound.”

The Pride finish 3-6 on their nine-game road trip, bringing their season record to 6-6.

“We [need to] come out and be aggressive and show our toughness,” Claxton said.

The Pride will return home on Thursday, Dec. 22, to face the SUNY Old Westbury Panthers. The arrival back to the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex will be a welcome sight for the Pride, since they are undefeated at home.

 Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics.