Redshirt senior Tyler Thomas poured in a game-high 26 points, including the go-ahead three-pointer with 35 seconds remaining, to lift the Hofstra Men’s Basketball team to a thrilling 83-78 win over Iona on Friday evening at a packed David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex. A crowd of 3,707 saw the Pride pick up its second win of the season.
Sophomore Darlinstone Dubar added 22 points and six rebounds for the Pride, which improved to 2-0 on the season. Iona falls to 1-1.
Thomas was strong throughout the game as he sank a three-pointer at the 12:02 mark of the first half to give the Pride an early seven-point advantage at 22-15. After the Gaels rallied back to take the lead, Hofstra used a 14-2 run to retake a seven-point lead following a basket from Dubar with 6:09 left before intermission. The Pride would hold the lead through the rest of the half and took a three-point lead into the break.
Trailing by one in the opening minutes of the second stanza, Hofstra scored 10 consecutive points to push the lead to nine as Dubar had five points during the run that made it 62-53. Moments later, sophomore German Plotnikov hit a three-pointer to give Hofstra its largest lead of the game at 65-55 with 10:37 left in regulation. The Gaels battled back and eventually knotted the score at 74 on a three-pointer from Berrick JeanLouis, setting up the game for an exciting finish.
Thomas would hit a basket that made it a two-point game at the 1:23 mark and after Iona tied the score with a pair of free throws, Thomas hit a huge three-pointer from right in front of the Hofstra bench that turned out to be the game-winner and put the Pride in front, 79-76, with 35 seconds left. The Pride would hit four free throws in the final 10 seconds, and were 15-19 in the game from the charity stripe, to close out the contest.
Sophomore Jaquan Carlos added 12 points and seven assists in the contest, while graduate student Nelson Boachie-Yiadom chipped in with six rebounds, four assists, two points, and two blocked shots. Sophomore German Plotnikov came off the bench and added 11 points.
Quinn Slazinski led Iona with 20 points and 10 rebounds, while Nelly Junior Joseph added 17 points, nine rebounds, and six blocked shots.
The Pride shot nearly 50% (27-55) from the field and drained 14-29 from beyond the arc.
Hofstra is back in action on Monday when it hosts George Washington at 7 p.m. For ticket information visit HofstraTickets.com. The game will also air on FloHoops.
NOTES
– Hofstra is now 21-22 all-time against Iona. The Pride picked up its first win over Gaels since an 83-75 victory on December 29, 2011.
– Hofstra improved to 54-14 over the past six seasons at the Mack Sports Complex.
– Hofstra used its second starting lineup of the season as Carlos replaced graduate student Bryce Washington in the starting lineup.
For more information on the Hofstra University Athletics Department fans are encouraged to click on the link seen here:
Hofstra University Athletics – Official Athletics Website (gohofstra.com)