The Hofstra Pride men’s basketball team will return to action on Wednesday night, Nov. 30, as their nine-game road trip takes them to Virginia to match up against the George Mason University Patriots. These two schools have quite a bit of history, as they had faced off frequently as members of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) from 2001-2013. Wednesday’s contest will be the first meeting between Hofstra and George Mason since 2013, and the Patriots claimed the most recent matchup by a score of 79-50 at the Mack Sports Complex.
George Mason enters this matchup with a 3-4 record after defeating the Queens University Royals in their most recent game on Saturday, Nov. 26. The Patriots have developed a reputation as one of the nation’s slowest, most methodical teams on offense, ranking 333rd nationally in adjusted tempo and 207th in average possession length, per KenPom. However, George Mason has struggled taking care of the basketball, turning the ball over on 21% of their offensive possessions and ranking 267th in turnover margin.
The Patriots boast a balanced offensive attack, with three scorers currently averaging in double figures. Senior forward Josh Oduro leads the team in both scoring and rebounding, averaging 12.4 points and six boards per game. Senior Victor Bailey Jr. is another name to look out for on offense, as the guard converts on 43% of his three-point attempts.
The Pride comes into this matchup with a 6-2 record after earning a pair of wins at the Northern Classic in Quebec, Canada. Hofstra is quietly becoming an offensive force this season, ranking top 70 nationally in offensive efficiency, field goal percentage and three-point percentage. Contrary to George Mason, Hofstra excels at limiting turnovers, giving the ball away on 8.5% of their offensive possessions.
The offensive attack is run through star senior Aaron Estrada, who is fresh off a 29 point, six assist performance against Quinnipiac University on Sunday, Nov. 27, in a game where he notched his 1,000th career point. Estrada now leads the Pride in points, assists and steals per game this season, as he looks to win his second straight CAA Player of the Year award.
Another key contributor for the Pride is true freshman Amar’e Marshall, who was recently awarded CAA Rookie of the Week honors after a pair of double-digit scoring performances at the Northern Classic. Marshall has quickly found his way into the Hofstra rotation, averaging 8 points on 40% shooting in just over 18 minutes per game. Transfer senior Tyler Thomas is another newcomer who has grown into a key role with the Pride, playing 65% of the team’s minutes and averaging over 12 points per game.
Tipoff from EagleBank Arena is set for Wednesday, Nov. 30, at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcasted on ESPN+, while WRHU 88.7 FM will provide an audio-only broadcast. Links to both broadcasts and live stats can be found at GoHofstra.com
Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics