Despite a 25-point performance from Jalen Ray, the Hofstra men’s basketball team couldn’t get past the James Madison University Dukes on Sunday, Feb. 14, falling by a score of 74-70 at the Atlantic Union Bank Center in Harrisonburg, Virginia.
The loss gave the Pride a 12-9 record, while JMU improved up to 13-5. With the win, JMU now has a seven-game win streak to their name, while the Pride has lost three of their last four, including both games of the weekend doubleheader with the Dukes.
JMU led for almost the entirety of the game, with Hofstra only holding a lead for 1:25 early in the first half.
“Certainly, a much different game than yesterday,” said Hofstra acting head coach Mike Farrelly. “Offensively, certainly didn’t make shots, not as good execution wise. Give [JMU] credit for them ramping up their defense. We didn’t do a good job responding to that. Our defense was a lot better today.”
Guard Jalen Ray led the Pride in scoring with 25 points, 12 of which came via 3-pointers. Despite the Dukes holding him to only seven points in the first half, Ray exploded for 18 in the second.
Kvonn Cramer put up a double-double performance despite fouling out in the closing minute of the game. Cramer scored 13 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.
“[Cramer] is what you want in your program because he hates to lose,” Farrelly said. “He plays hard. [He] just embodies everything that you want, and how lucky are we that he’s a redshirt freshman,” Farrelly added.
At the end of the first half, JMU guard Terrence Edwards made a layup at the buzzer to extend the Dukes’ lead to double digits at halftime.
“That basket, everybody stopped playing. I guess they thought the shot came later than it did,” Farrelly said. “Just very disappointing that we couldn’t finish [the first half] out with that one more second.”
JMU was led by guard Vado Morse who scored 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Morse hit a 3-pointer with 4:34 left to play, extending the Dukes’ lead to seven. The Pride was unable to bring the score back within five for the remaining time on the scoreboard, as a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from Tareq Coburn set the final score at 74-70.
“The Morse shot was big,” Farrelly said. “You know, give credit, good player, good shooter. Didn’t make a ton of shots this weekend, made basically two back to back threes yesterday, but big moment. He came in confident.”
The Pride will be looking for their 13th win of the season on Saturday, Feb. 20 when the College of Charleston Cougars come to Hempstead, and the Cougars will be looking to spoil the party at Hofstra’s virtual homecoming at the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex.
Photo Courtesy of Hofstra Athletics
