The Hofstra men’s basketball team was able to avenge a loss in their season opener when they beat the Monmouth University Hawks 94-74 Saturday, Nov. 9, at the David S. Mack Sports Arena.

This game would be a complete opposite from their season opening loss against San Jose State University in several key areas. First the Pride were able to outrebound Monmouth 38-33 after getting crushed on the boards in the first game. The Pride hustled to loose balls and snatched key rebounds to end their opponents offensive possessions.

“We talked a lot these past few days about attitude and effort, which wasn’t quite where it needed to be the other night, if anything we learned a lesson,” said Hofstra head coach Joe Mihalich.   

Hofstra center Isaac Kante was able to get himself in rhythm early in the game, getting a few touches in the post to score for his team and continued his level of play the remainder of the contest. Kante was one of six of players for Hofstra to score in the double-digits, which was the first time since back in 2016 that they got such even distribution. 

“Great balance from everybody, we got some help from the guys off the bench which we really needed, if this team is going to be good we got to keep bringing those guys along off the bench and get them to contribute,” Mihalich said.

Hofstra totaled 20 points off their bench with newcomer Omar Silverio scoring 13 points for himself and hitting big time shots when needed to for his team.

“He gave us a boost… he can do that, he can score, we got to get him to pick it up at the other end, but he can score,” Mihalich said. “We said going into the year this is the type of team that could have a lot of balance and we could have guys that average 15 points, anybody can be the leading scorer on any given night,”

The Pride went up big in the first half as Hofstra rattled off a 17-0 run over Monmouth to enter halftime up 51-24. Jalen Ray and Desure Buie had the hot hand early on in the first half with Buie putting in 11 points and Ray netting seven points, with each only missing just one shot from the floor.

In the second half the Hawks went on an 11-0 run to cut into their deficit, but never was able to bring the game within 15 points as the Pride won the contest going away.

“I don’t know if I would say must win, but it was a time to make sure we knew how to play the game,” Mihalich said. “We had that sense of urgency, everyday you should have that sense of urgency and these guys know that.”

For the Pride Elijah Pemberton and Buie led all scorers with 17 points while Kante added 15, Tareq Coburn put in 11 and Ray finished with 14 points.

 “I was just trying to be aggressive and get my teammates going, so I tried to attack the basket and find open shots for my teammates and make their life easier,” Buie said on leading his team with eight  assists which was half of the total (16) amassed on the evening. 

With Hofstra’s win they move to 1-1 on the season and look to continue their play on Wednesday Nov. 13, when they travel to face Bucknell University at 7 p.m.

“We got to learn from our mistakes the first game…. We got to know losing sucks and go hard from the beginning,” Coburn said.

Photo Courtesy of Hofstra Athletics