The Hofstra Pride men’s basketball team dropped an overtime thriller to the George Mason University Patriots by a score of 81-77 on Nov. 30, at EagleBank Arena in Fairfax, Virginia, to end Hofstra’s brief two-game winning streak.
The Pride dropped to 6-3 on the season while George Mason improved to an even 4-4 record, as the Patriots logged their 16th win in 24 contests against the Pride.
The Pride grabbed control early, jumping out to a 29-18 lead in the waning minutes of the first half, but the Patriots roared back and outscored Hofstra 50-39 the rest of the way to force overtime. George Mason bested Hofstra 13-9 in the penultimate period to secure the win.
Senior guard Aaron Estrada once again dazzled with 31 points on 55% shooting. Despite being limited by foul trouble as well as an apparent ankle injury in the second half, Estrada still managed to log 39 minutes and lead all scorers in the contest.
Estrada has now totaled 50 points on 59% shooting in his last two games. The Hofstra star converted a game-tying layup while being fouled with three seconds left and headed to the free throw line with a chance to seize the lead, but missed the subsequent free throw to send the game to overtime.
Senior guard Tyler Thomas also made a difference offensively for the Pride, as he added 14 points on 44% shooting and logged his largest minutes total of the season. Senior forward Warren Williams had his most productive outing of the season, tallying season highs in points, rebounds and blocks.
George Mason had four players score in double digits in the win and assisted on over 45% of their made baskets, compared to just 26% for the Pride. No Hofstra player recorded more than two assists, while George Mason had three players do so. Senior forward Josh Oduro led the way for the Patriots, as he notched 21 points on 45% shooting while pulling down 11 rebounds to secure his second double-double of the season.
Junior guard Ronald Polite III also poured in 14 points on an efficient 66% shooting. Guards DeVon Cooper and Davonte Gaines scored 13 and 11 points, respectively.
Hofstra is now 3-3 on their lengthy nine game road trip and will have perhaps their toughest matchup of the season up next as they travel to West Lafayette, Indiana, to face the 5th-ranked Purdue University Boilermakers on Wednesday, Dec. 7. The Boilermakers currently hold a 7-0 record and have won six of their seven games this season by double digits. The Pride will have to find a way to slow down one of the nation’s premier interior talents, as Purdue big man Zach Edey stands at a towering 7-foot-4-inches, six inches taller than Hofstra’s tallest player. Edey currently averages 22 points and 11 rebounds per game and is widely regarded as the favorite to win National Player of the Year.
Photo Courtesy of Hofstra Athletics
