The Hofstra University men’s basketball team has found seemingly every possible way to win across their three-game winning streak, and on Thursday, Jan. 25, it was defense and physicality that propelled the Pride to a 64-55 victory over the College of William & Mary Tribe. The victory moved Hofstra to 4-3 in Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) play, as they climbed over .500 in the league for the first time this season.
“It was a tough night for us shooting the basketball; the shots we typically make weren’t falling tonight,” said Hofstra head coach Speedy Claxton. “We had to rely on the defensive end and that carried us to the win.”
Despite posting their second-lowest scoring total in CAA play, Hofstra stifled the William & Mary offense, holding the Tribe to 34.4% from the field and 31.2% from 3-point range. While star junior Gabe Dorsey continued to get the better of the Pride with 26 points and eight made 3-pointers, no other member of the Tribe managed more than 10 points.
“We’re always [going to] rely on our defense,” said star senior Tyler Thomas. “We let that defense carry us tonight.”
The win also marked a historic night for Thomas, who eclipsed 2,000 career points and 1,000 points at Hofstra with his 13-point performance. Thomas now enters Hofstra’s 1,000-point club as the 42nd member, joining fellow star Darlinstone “Dstone” Dubar and former teammate Aaron Estrada on the prestigious list.
“Tyler has been a tremendous player for a year and a half; he’s a bucket getter, as you can see,” Claxton said.
For the first time in his Hofstra career, German Plotnikov led the Pride in scoring with 15 points on six out of seven shooting. Hofstra is now 3-0 since inserting the junior into the starting lineup, with Plotnikov posting an impressive +29 in that short span.
“Nothing ever changes for me; I just always come in there ready to play whether I come off the bench or start,” Plotnikov said. “I just come in there and play hard.”
For the Hofstra offense, Claxton’s point of emphasis on ball movement and chemistry was tremendously evident once again, as the Pride notched 15 assists on 24 made baskets. Hofstra also managed to haul in 35 rebounds as a team, with Jacco Fritz and Jaquan Carlos combining for 20 boards.
“The glass is always a key to the game; we need to limit our opponents to one shot and get out in transition,” Claxton said. “Can’t give these guys second and third opportunities, and we’ve been good with that.”
Looking at the conference, recent losses by Drexel University and the College of Charleston put Hofstra just 2.5 games out of first place with 11 games to play. So, with their two-game losing streak seemingly in the rearview, they focus on the games ahead.
“We put those games behind us, man,” Claxton said. “It’s all about looking forward to us.”
The Pride will look to keep up their winning ways when they visit the Monmouth University Hawks on Saturday, Jan. 27, in West Long Branch, New Jersey.
Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics/Matteo Bracco
