The Hofstra University men’s basketball team saw their three-game win streak come to a screeching halt on Saturday, Jan. 27, as the Pride squandered a double-digit lead in their 81-78 loss to the Monmouth University Hawks at OceanFirst Bank Center in West Long Branch, New Jersey. The loss dropped Hofstra to 4-4 in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) and 2-8 on the road.
“Yeah, [It was a] tough one when you’re up 10 points in that second half,” said Hofstra head coach Speedy Claxton. “It really came down to us missing free throws, our live ball turnovers and their second chance points.”
Self-inflicted wounds proved to be Hofstra’s undoing in a turnover-filled second half, as the Pride allowed 13 points off 10 giveaways after the break.
“Our guys just missed shots that they typically make, but it came down to us,” Claxton said. “We had too many live ball turnovers, and they had too many points off our turnovers.”
Much like previous conference bouts, Saturday’s game was a tale of two halves for Hofstra, as the Pride led 50-38 at halftime after shooting 11-17 from 3-point range. Claxton’s free-flowing offense continued this upward trend, as the Pride notched 12 assists on 18 successful field goals in the opening 20 minutes.
“We were moving the ball and sharing it,” Claxton said. “We were taking and making open shots, and we played team basketball.”
Tyler Thomas got on track with an all-around performance, including 24 points on an efficient 9-16 from the field. With the lower volume of shots, Thomas managed to add a new dimension to the Hofstra attack with four assists and seven rebounds.
“It was good to see him make some shots; we need that going forward,” Claxton said.
The fouls began to pile up after a strong defensive first half for Hofstra, as Monmouth attempted 19 of their 32 free throws in the second half. Despite not making a field goal for the final five minutes and 11 seconds of the game, the Hawks used a 78.1% mark from the free throw line to lift their offense to victory.
“I don’t think it was them – it was us and what we didn’t do,” Claxton said. “We fouled a 3-point shooter three or four times.”
For Monmouth, star senior Xander Rice used a 31-point outburst to seize the CAA scoring lead from Tyler Thomas and did so with an 11-12 mark from the free throw line. Rice’s heroics at the charity stripe ultimately proved to be the deciding factor in the win, as he converted the game-winning free throws after being fouled by Bryce Washington with 2.2 seconds to go.
“Our whole game plan was to stop Rice, and he went for 30 points. That can’t happen,” Claxton said.
Now sitting tied for fifth place in the CAA, the Pride are one of six teams with an even 4-4 record in league play. They sit one game out of the CAA Tournament’s final seed with a double bye. Hofstra will look to avoid another losing streak when they return home to face the Stony Brook Seawolves on Thursday, Feb. 1. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex.
Photo courtesy of Emily Webb
