Timely shots and a tough defensive effort helped push the Hofstra Pride men’s basketball team to an 89-84 win in the regular-season finale over the College of Charleston Cougars on Monday, Feb. 28, at the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex.

Monday’s game between the Cougars and the Pride began with both teams trading baskets throughout the opening minutes.

With the Pride leading by three with just over seven minutes to go in the first half, Aaron Estrada connected on a mid-range jump shot to extend the lead. After Jalen Ray increased the margin to seven, Charleston’s Babacar Faye was fouled and connected on both free throw attempts.

After Omar Silverio connected on a pullup jumper for Hofstra, Osinachi Smart made a layup, putting the Cougar’s deficit at five.

Silverio connected on a three-pointer for the Pride along with Zach Cooks banking another from the left-wing, pushing Hofstra’s lead to 11.

Both teams traded baskets until the final minutes, but the Pride had an 11-point lead heading into halftime 42-31. 

Within the first 20 minutes of play, the Cougars had 17 turnovers, and the Pride capitalized with 18 points off turnovers.

After Charleston’s Ben Burnham knocked down a three-pointer to open the second half, Estrada made a layup while also getting fouled. After connecting on the free throw, Hofstra went back up by 11.

Both teams traded baskets over the next several minutes as the Pride maintained its lead, but the Cougars were always within striking distance. They brought their deficit to six with 15:22 remaining in the second half, but a Silverio three-pointer pushed Hofstra’s lead back to nine.

The teams went back and forth, but the Cougars had momentum as the Pride’s lead was trimmed to five after Charleston’s Dimitrius Underwood made a mid-range jump shot with 5:45 left.

Free throws and layups were exchanged by both teams, keeping the Pride’s lead at five, until Caleb Burgess added his second three-pointer of the night, putting Hofstra up by eight. However, it was temporary, as Meeks answered for the Cougars 14 seconds later, putting Charleston’s deficit at five.

Although Estrada netted a turnaround midrange jump shot, Meeks added another three-pointer, bringing the Pride’s lead to four.

Less than a minute later, after a turnover by the Cougars, Hofstra’s Simmons was fouled, and he connected on one of his two free-throw attempts with 1:28 remaining.

Burnham made a dunk for the Cougars, pulling Charleston to within three and forcing Pride head coach Speedy Claxton to call a timeout.

With 42 seconds remaining and Hofstra up by three, Estrada hit a three-pointer, giving the Pride an 83-77 lead.

Raekwon Horton added a layup for Charleston and Silverio added two free throws for Hofstra, putting the Pride up by six. Then, Smith hit a three-pointer for the Cougars, putting them back within three with 13 seconds remaining.

Estrada was fouled on the inbound pass, putting him at the free-throw line where he connected on both attempts, but on Charleston’s next possession, Smith was fouled on a three-point attempt. After making the first two attempts, he missed the third which was rebounded by Ray.  

With the Pride leading 87-84 and seven seconds remaining, Ray connected on both free throw attempts, clinching the win for Hofstra over the College of Charleston 89-84. 

Estrada led the Pride in the scoring column with 28 points while having a team-high seven assists. “The first time we played [Charleston], our coaching staff did a good job of preparing us, to let us know as far as them being physical, and playing hard,” Estrada said.

He tied Abayomi Iyiola with a team-high of six rebounds.

“[Iyiola’s] a warrior. When you have three good big guys, it’s going to be a different person’s night,” Claxton said. 

Silverio added 19 points off the bench while Burgess added three steals on the night.

“Great team win,” Claxton said. “We knew it was going to be a battle. They’re the most physical team in the league.”

The Pride men’s basketball team looks to Sunday, when it will head to Washington, D.C., to face the same College of Charleston Cougars in the first round of the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament. Tip-off will be at 8:30 p.m. from the Entertainment & Sports Arena.

Photo courtesy of Evan Bernstein/The Hofstra Chronicle