The Hofstra University men’s basketball team registered their second consecutive win at the Gulf Coast Showcase in Estero, Florida, with a thrilling 85-76 comeback victory over the Wright State University Raiders in the semifinal round on Tuesday, Nov. 11. In a game that truly resembled a roller coaster ride for Hofstra, the Pride trailed by 10 or more points on several occasions before outscoring the Raiders 47-28 in the second half.

 “[I’m] just proud of the way my guys came out and played,” said Hofstra head coach Speedy Claxton. “To hold that kind of team to 29% from the field in the second half, that’s Hofstra basketball right there.”

 Hofstra opened their quarterfinal win over the University at Buffalo Buffalo Bulls on Monday, Nov. 20, with a sizzling 10-0 run, but the first few minutes of their semifinal on Tuesday, Nov. 21, went in the opposite direction, as the Pride dug themselves into a 13-1 hole within the first five minutes.

 “[I] had to call a quick timeout, but we regrouped and refocused,” Claxton said. “I told them we’re fine. We just have to play under control and get some stops, and we’ll be fine.”

 Hofstra’s offense was spearheaded by a 30-point effort for the second straight night, as Tyler Thomas followed up Darlinstone Dubar’s career-best performance from Monday by posting his own highest scoring total in the Pride’s blue and gold. Thomas shot 9/19 from the field and added to his statistics with four assists and four rebounds. The fifth-year senior punctuated his historic performance with a crucial step-back 3-pointer to put Hofstra up by six points with 1:40 to play.

 “That’s just ‘big shot Ty,’” Claxton said. “Last night it was [Dubar], but Tyler took us home tonight. He has the ultimate confidence in himself.”

 Fresh off a strong bounce-back performance against Buffalo, center Jacco Fritz once again stuffed the statistic sheet for the Pride, as he posted 14 points, nine rebounds and two assists in the win. Despite nearly notching a double-double, Claxton maintains that Fritz’s 35 minutes played proved to be the most important statistic of them all.

 “Jacco is a really good player. He does so much for our team and keeps us together,” Claxton said. “We run a different type of offense when he’s in the game … he’s an integral part of our team, and we need him on the court.”

 Only six members of the Pride saw more than five minutes of game action in the win, with true freshman KiJan Robinson playing more minutes than any Hofstra reserve. Claxton turned to the younger guard when the Pride was down by 12 points midway through the first half in a decision that would ultimately pay dividends. The Pride mounted their comeback with Robinson playing alongside Thomas and Jaquan Carlos in the backcourt.

“[Robinson] is our sixth man,” Claxton said. “He’s been reliable off the bench and has been our spark plug in the times we need him. For a young freshman to be ready like that, he has a lot on his shoulders, but he can handle it.”

The Pride will face off against High Point University in the Gulf Coast Showcase title game on Wednesday, Nov. 22, at 7:30 p.m. The Panthers entered the week as the tournament’s lowest-ranked team on the KenPom college basketball rankings but quickly propelled themselves to national notoriety with shocking upset victories over Iona University and Illinois State University.

“Tomorrow means everything,” Claxton said. “We’ve got two out of the way, but we need one more.”

Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics/Kevin Bires