Jalen Ray led all scorers with 20 points and Hofstra pulled away from Molloy midway through the first half and cruised to an 87-49 victory Wednesday evening at the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex. The game was the 2021-22 home opener for the Pride after five road games to start the season.
Hofstra, which had six players in double figures, moved to 2-4 with the victory. Molloy slipped to 0-4 with the loss.
Ray was 7-12 from the floor and 4-9 from three-point range for his second 20-point game of the season and 16th of his career. Aaron Estrada and Zach Cooks poured in 14 points, Omar Silverio and Kvonn Cramer had 12 points each, and Darlinstone Dubar chipped in with 11 points, all in the second half. Dubar also had a career and game-high 12 rebounds, while Cramer pulled down 12 boards.
The teams were locked in a tight first half battle before the Pride took control midway through the stanza. There were seven tie scores in the half, the last at 18-18 with 11:43 to play, when the Pride closed out the half on a 22-4 run to lead 40-22 at the half. Ray had eight points in the run, while Cramer and Silverio added five each.
The Pride would grow the lead to 24, 52-28, with 14: 28 to go in the second half after a three-pointer by Estrada. Molloy would score seven straight points to cut the lead to 17 (52-35) with 12:12 to play. However, that was as close as the Lions would get as Hofstra closed the game on a 35-14 run. Dubar led all scorers in the half with his 11 points. He also added nine rebounds in the half.
Kendell Ogilvie’s 13 points paced Molloy. Sey Dieng added 12 points for the Lions. Frankie Phelan pulled down a team-high seven rebounds.
Hofstra returns to action Saturday at 2 p.m. when it hosts Detroit Mercy. Tickets are available for purchase at HofstraTickets.com, by calling (516) HOF-TIXX, or by visiting the Hofstra Athletic Ticket Office in the lobby of the Mack Sports Complex during normal business hours.
Notes:
-Hofstra is 3-0 all-time versus Molloy. This was the first meeting since the 2017-18 season.
-Hofstra is 9-2 in its last 11 home openers.
-The Pride is 42-12 in their last 54 contests at the Mack Sports Complex.
-Dubar’s double-double was the first of his career.
-Kramer’s double-double was the fifth of his career and first of the season.
-This was the first game with six players in double figures since November 9, 2019, against Monmouth.
-Hofstra had 20 assists in the game led by five from Estrada and Jaquan Carlos.
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