Hofstra 85, George Washington 80: Rapid Reaction

By Jason Dimaio (@JasonDimaio1)

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. — Hofstra's momentum is fully in force so far one week into the young season, as the Pride advanced to 3-0 for the first time since 2018, defeating George Washington Monday by the final of 85-80.

The Aaron Estrada show was back on stage after a quiet Friday against Iona. The CAA Preseason Player of the Year went for 33 points, two short of his career high, as he blitzed the Colonials in the first half for 23.

“I’m just trying to be more of a leader this year,” Estrada said when asked what had gone right for him on this night. “I don’t worry about my stats or how many points I score, I just want to lead and tonight it came by me scoring.”

As for the game itself, it came down to the wire, much like Hofstra’s first two games had gone. The Pride controlled the tempo of the first half on both ends of the floor, finding easy buckets early on and keeping that same level of competition on the defensive side of the ball, forcing GW to take rushed and contested shots, a formula that helped the hosts take an 11-point halftime lead into the locker room. The second half was a much different story.

Hofstra came out slow and lethargic, letting its double digit lead evaporate only seven minutes into the half. GW made the right halftime adjustments, holding Estrada scoreless until the 11-minute mark, where the senior scored off a turnover to give the Pride a six-point lead and some breathing room.

There was no shortage of star power on George Washinton’s end, as James Bishop IV outdid Estrada’s performance by scoring a game high 44 points himself, but in the end, it just wasn’t enough. A 9-0 run in the final four minutes of the game put Hofstra in the driver's seat as the Pride let the home crowd leave Long Island on a high note.

Coming up later this week is the first major challenge for Hofstra, as the Pride flies across the country to take on San Jose State on Thursday, followed by a meeting with powerhouse Saint Mary’s on Saturday.