Late run helps Hofstra get back on track with win over Drexel

Tareq Coburn’s 24 points and 12 rebounds led Hofstra past Drexel, avenging last-second loss in previous game versus Delaware. (Photo by Vincent Simone/Daly Dose Of Hoops)

By Vincent Simone (@VTSimone)

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. — On to the next.

The benefit of playing in a conference built around a strict Thursday-Saturday schedule is a quick turnaround. 

A chance to right the ship before you drown in the thoughts of a crushing defeat. Three weeks ago, Hofstra suffered one such crushing defeat in the form of a 27-point drubbing at the hands of Colonial Athletic Association underdog William & Mary. Two days later, the Pride turned the tables and doled out a 27-point punishment of its own to conference for Elon.

This past Thursday, Hofstra found itself on the wrong end of one of those crushing defeats once more when Delaware’s Kevin Anderson drove the length of the court and found the bottom of the net with a floater to break a 71-all tie in the final second of regulation. That bucket would be featured that night as SportsCenter’s No. 1 play of the day.

Rather than wallow in misery, Hofstra had the benefit of being forced to turn its attention toward Saturday afternoon’s contest against Drexel.

"We were frustrated after the game Thursday," senior Desure Buie said. "We wanted to get right back at it the next day. We brought that energy today and played angry."

Entering the half down a point, the visiting Dragons burst out of the gate with a 13-2 run to open their largest lead of the night at 43-35 early in the second stanza. With his team struggling to stay afloat, Hofstra senior Tareq Coburn soon sparked the Pride with five quick points to help pull Hofstra back within one.

"I was just bringing energy, starting out on defense," Coburn said of that spark, “keeping my teammates motivated and doing whatever I can."

Junior Jalen Ray came through with a triple to deliver Hofstra its first lead of the second half, at 52-51, with 9:47 remaining, and from there, the Pride never looked back. The trey turned out to be the catalyst of a 17-0 Hofstra run, lifting the Pride to a 72-59 victory and a 6-3 record in league play.

Coburn capped the night with a career-high 24 points to go along with 12 rebound for his fourth double-double of the season. Pride leading scorer and CAA Player of the Year candidate Buie managed 12 points and 5 assists despite a dismal 5-of-20 night from the floor.

"He just proved he's human," Hofstra head coach Joe Mihalich said of Buie. "I get more upset if they don't take an open shot than if they miss an open shot."

Despite the off night shooting, Buie enjoyed setting the program record in games played at Hofstra with 129. Isaac Kante and Eli Pemberton joined the duo in double figures with 13 and 12 points apiece. Junior forward, CAA leading rebounder, and walking double-double James Butler paced Drexel with his 14th double-double of the season on 21 points and 12 boards. Zach Walton added 14 points while Camren Wynter notched 10 points and four assists in his return to his hometown of Hempstead.

Notes:

* William & Mary, Charleston, and Northeastern all lost at home Saturday afternoon, throwing the CAA standings into a deliciously chaotic mix. William & Mary maintains its lead atop the league at 7-2, while Hofstra, Charleston, and Towson each sit a game behind at 6-3. Northeastern, Delaware, and Drexel are all just two games back of the conference lead at 5-4 with half the league slate left to play.

* Prior to Saturday's game, Hofstra senior walk-on Connor Klementowicz was awarded an athletic scholarship to cover the remainder of his time at the university. 

"He is the best walk-on I've been around in my life," Mihalich said of Klementowicz, who has accrued 17 career points. "He's not liked, but loved by all these guys, and respected."