A Malik Rose "Shaq of the NAC" collectible would have been flying off the shelves in the mid-'90s.
Well, that sure beat last year’s CAA opener (which actually took place in the same calendar year as this year’s CAA opener, now that’s quirky!). The Flying Dutchmen built on the momentum generated by a strong performance in non-conference play by riding a pair of lengthy runs Monday night to an 86-72 win over Campbell.
As was the case last week, this week got away from me (no flu this time, which was nice). So today you get a super-duper jam-packed IBQ with not only the postgame boilerplate from the Campbell win but also the news and notes from the victories over the Camels as well as Quinnipiac PLUS the preview of Drexel (or, as I call it, the day I finally have to pay for Flo again). Hopefully I’ll get back to some semblance of a routine next week. In the meantime, enjoy!
THE MOST RECENT GAME SUMMARIZED IN ONE PARAGRAPH
Cruz Davis (22 points, seven assists, five rebounds) had his usual all-around strong game and three other players reached double figures for the Dutchmen as they rode a balanced attack to a thorough win over Campbell. The Camels took a pair of early four-point leads the Dutchmen took control with a 25-6 run that gave them a 35-19 lead with 6:15 left. Jaeden Roberts fueled the surge with eight points off the bench. Campbell got within single digits twice more before Joshua DeCady and Preston Edmead combined on an 11-2 run to end the half and put the Dutchmen up 49-31 at intermission. The Dutchmen led b as many as 23 in the second half, when Campbell got no closer than 15 until the final basket. Edmead scored 16 points while DeCady matched his career-high with 15 points, Roberts added 14 points in just 15 minutes. Victory Onuetu had six points and 12 rebounds while Silas Sunday (eight points, six rebounds) had another solid game off the bench.
3 STARS OF THE GAME (vs. Campbell, 12/29)
3: Cruz Davis
2: Joshua DeCady
1: Preston Edmead
SEASON STANDINGS
Cruz Davis 34
Preston Edmead 20
Biggie Patterson 9
German Plotnikov 6
Victory Onuetu 6
Joshua DeCady 4
Silas Sunday 3
Jaeden Roberts 2
WAS THIS A UNICORN SCORE?
No! Bummer but I guess we can’t complain after the 74-66 unicorn score win over Quinnipiac. The Dutchmen previously earned an 86-72 win on Jan. 19, 2019, when they eased by Charleston for the 14th win in the 16-game winning streak.
The Dutchmen have recorded two unicorn score victories this season and 62 unicorn score victories since the start of the 2018-19 season, when we first started tracking unicorn scores.
2025-26: Two unicorn scores
2024-25: Seven unicorn scores
2023-24: Seven unicorn scores
2022-23: 12 unicorn scores
2021-22: 11 unicorn scores
2020-21: Zero unicorn scores (really)
2019-20: 13 unicorn scores
2018-19: 10 unicorn scores
The term unicorn score was coined by Mets superfan, historian and blogger Greg Prince to describe a score by which the Mets had never previously won. You may also know it as a “Scorigami,” a term popularized in the NFL.
WHO HAD THE KEITH HERNANDEZ?
Preston Edmead kept the Keith Hernandezes in the family, so to speak, by draining the go-ahead 3-pointer with 12:05 left in the first half to give the Dutchmen the lead for good at 15-13. Edmead vaults into a tie with Cruz Davis atop the season-long standings and continues the trend of a 3-pointer or nostalgic 3-point play accounting for every Keith Hernandez achieved via a field goal this season, Quirky!
German Plotnikov go-ahead 3-pointer vs. Molloy, 11/10/25 (18:47 left 1H)
Preston Edmead go-ahead 3-pointer vs. Bucknell, 11/14/25 (13:30 left 2H)
Biggie Patterson tie-breaking free throw vs. La Salle, 11/28/25 (1:35 left 2H)
Preston Edmead tie-breaking 3-pointer vs. Merrimack, 11/29/25 (15:25 left 1H)
Biggie Patterson tie-breaking 3-pointer vs. Pennsylvania, 11/30/25 (18:03 left 2H)
Cruz Davis tie-breaking 3-pointer vs. Pittsburgh, 12/7/25 (8:38 left 1H)
Cruz Davis tie-breaking free throw vs. Old Westbury, 12/10/25 (19:50 left 1H)
German Plotnikov go-ahead 3-pointer vs. Syracuse, 12/13/25 (:31.9 left 2H)
Cruz Davis nostalgic 3-point play vs. Quinnipiac, 12/21/25 (3:54 left 2H)
Preston Edmead go-ahead 3-pointer vs. Campbell, 12/29/25 (12:05 left 1H)
SEASON STANDINGS
Preston Edmead 3
Cruz Davis 3
German Plotnikov 2
Biggie Patterson 2
ALL-TIME STANDINGS (or at least since the 2022-23 season)
Tyler Thomas 16
Darlinstone Dubar 14
Cruz Davis 6
German Plotnikov 5
Jean Aranguren 5
Aaron Estrada 4
Preston Edmead 3
Michael Graham 3
Warren Williams 3
Biggie Patterson 2
Silas Sunday 2
Jacco Fritz 2
Jaquan Carlos 2
Eric Parnell 1
KiJan Robinson 1
Bryce Washington 1
The Keith Hernandez is bestowed upon the player who scores the points that put the Dutchmen ahead for good in a victory. The stat pays homage to Hernandez, the World Series-winning Cardinals and Mets first baseman who had a record 129 game-winning RBIs when the stat was inexplicably discontinued after the 1988 season.
THE FLYING DUTCHMEN AFTER FOURTEEN GAMES
The Dutchmen improved to 10-4 with Monday night’s win. This ties the 2025-26 team for the 15th-best record in school history through 14 games. This is the first time the Dutchmen have opened 10-4 since 2019-20 and the 13th time overall in program history. Here is how some notable Hofstra teams have fared through 14 games:
NCAA DIVISION I TOURNAMENT TEAMS
1975-76: 7-7
1976-77: 10-4
1999-2000: 9-5
2000-01: 10-4
2019-20 (IT COUNTS TO US): 10-4
NIT TEAMS
1998-99: 9-5
2004-05: 10-4
2005-06: 11-3
2006-07: 10-4
2015-16: 10-4
2018-19: 11-3 (most recent 11-3 start, win in 14th game marked eighth win in the 16-game winning streak)
2022-23: 8-6
NCAA DIVISION II TOURNAMENT TEAMS
1958-59: 10-4
1961-62: 13-1 (most recent 13-1 start)
1962-63: 10-4
1963-64: 12-2 (most recent 12-2 start)
Some other notable 14-game starts:
2024-25: 8-6 (most recent 8-6 start)
2023-24: 7-7 (most recent 7-7 start)
2016-17: 9-5 (most recent 9-5 start)
2013-14: 4-10 (most recent 4-10 start, Joe Mihalich’s first team)
2012-13: 4-10 (won game no. 14 to snap eight-game losing streak)
2011-12: 6-8 (most recent 6-8 start)
2007-08: 3-11 (most recent 3-11 start)
2002-03: 2-12 (most recent 2-12 start)
1996-97: 5-9 (most recent 5-9 start)
1994-95: 2-12 (Jay Wright’s first team)
1993-94: 1-13 (VBK’s last team, most recent 1-13 start)
1988-89: 6-8 (win in 14th game was a 48-34 victory over Rider that still stands as the fewest points allowed by Hofstra against a Division I team in the last 37 seasons)
1986-87: 7-7 (last time at .500)
1966-67: 7-7 (last time at .500)
1961-62: 13-1 (most recent 13-1 start)
1959-60: 13-1 (Hofstra’s winningest team, percentage-wise; win in 14th game was third win of season-ending 13-game winning streak)
1937-38: 10-4 (season complete)
Hofstra has never been 14-0 or 0-14 through 14 games.
Full records not available for the following seasons: 1936-37, 1941-42, 1942-43.
This feature is inspired by Greg Prince, who measures how the current Mets compare, record-wise, to previous teams through the same point in the season.
NUMBER TEN THROUGH ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-SEVEN
With Monday night’s win, Speedy Claxton improved to 91-56 (.619) as head coach. That’s the fourth-best known winning percentage for a Hofstra coach through his first 146 games at the helm.
Butch van Breda Kolff I 110-37 (.748, 147th game was the 21st game of his sixth season in 1960-61)
Frank Reilly 106-41 (.721, 147th game was the 18th game of his sixth season in 1952-53)
Paul Lynner 93-54 (.633, 147th game was the 12th game of his sixth season in 1967-68)
SPEEDY CLAXTON 91-56 (.619, 147th game was the 14th game of his fifth season in 2025-26)
Tom Pecora 77-70 (.524, 147th game was the 27th game of his sixth season in 2005-06)
Joe Mihalich 77-70 (.524, 147th game was the 14th game of his fifth season in 2017-18)
Dick Berg 74-73 (.503, 147th game was the eighth game of his sixth season in 1985-86)
Jay Wright 73-74 (.497, 147th game was the second game of his sixth season in 1998-99)
Roger Gaeckler 72-75 (.490, 147th game was the 15th game of his sixth season in 1977-78)
Butch van Breda Kolff II 71-76 (.483, 147th game was the sixth game of his sixth season in 1993-94)
Tom Pecora and Joe Mihalich each win their 147th game at the helm to remain tied for fifth place all-time while Jay Wright climbs into sole possession of eighth place as his 1998-99 team, led by junior Speedy Claxton, earns its first win of the season. We’ll see if the perpetual slacker can ever build some consistency!
The records are incomplete for Jack McDonald’s first stint from 1936 through 1943 as well as the tenure of Jack Smith (1943-46).
Smith finished 27-32 in his three seasons while Mo Cassara finished 38-59 in his three seasons. Three coaches had one-season tenures lasting at Hofstra. McDonald went 18-6 in the lone season of his second stint in 1946-47 while Joe Harrington went 14-14 in 1979-80 and Mike Farrelly went 13-10 in 2020-21.
PUTTING A BOW ON 2025
With the win Monday night, the Dutchmen ended the calendar year with a victory for the first time since 2020. Another way to put it: The Dutchmen are now 1-4 to end a calendar year under Speedy Claxton. And a good thing too, because that win got the Dutchmen to .500 for 2025!
A rough conference season to open 2025 plus a strong non-conference season (plus one CAA game) at the end of the year equaled a 17-17 calendar year for the Dutchmen. That’s the first .500 calendar year in the 2000s for the Dutchmen, which officially ends a seven-year streak of winning years but also extends the streak of non-losing calendar years to eight straight. It is also the 20th-best record compiled by the Dutchmen during a calendar year in the 2000s, which means it’s been a pretty good century so far in men’s basketball, all things considered.
Here’s the full list led, not surprisingly, by 2000 (Conan O’Brien voice goes here), when the Dutchmen made their first NCAA Tournament in March and began building towards a repeat over the final two months.
2000: 27-6 (.818)
2019: 26-9 (.743)
2006: 26-9 (.743)
2020: 19-7 (.731)
2023: 24-9 (.727)
2018: 24-9 (.727)
2001: 23-9 (.719)
2016: 24-11(.686)
2005: 20-10 (.667)
2004: 19-10 (.655)
2024: 21-12 (.636)
2022: 21-12 (.636)
2009: 20-13 (.606)
2008: 19-13 (.594)
2015: 20-14 (.588)
2011: 20-14 (.588)
2021: 17-12 (.586)
2010: 18-15 (.545)
2007: 16-14 (.533)
2025: 17-17 (.500)
2017: 13-15 (.464)
2014: 15-19 (.441)
2003: 11-19 (.367)
2002: 9-21 (.300)
2012: 7-24 (.292)
2013: 8-24 (.250)
THE BEST OF ’25
Like the very existence of I’ll Be Quirky, this idea comes from Islanders statistician and The Skinny author Eric Hornick, who compiled the Islanders’ 2025 leaderboard following their win over the Blackhawks on Tuesday night. Without further ado, here’s the Dutchmen’s leaders in the major statistical categories in 2025:
Points per game: Cruz Davis, 17.0 ppg
Rebounds per game: Michael Graham, 8.7 rpg
Assists per game: Cruz Davis, 5.0 apg
Most total points: Cruz Davis, 577
Most total rebounds: Michael Graham, 174
Most total assists: Cruz Davis, 169
Most points in a game: Cruz Davis (36 vs. Pittsburgh, Dec. 7)
Most rebounds in a game: Michael Graham (21 vs. Campbell, Jan. 25)
Most assists in a game: Jean Aranguren (9 vs. Stony Brook, Feb. 8), Cruz Davis (9 vs. Syracuse, Dec. 13)
It’s the Cruz Davis show, not surprisingly, though Victory Onuetu (8.5 rebounds per game) nearly matched Michael Graham on the boards.
BRINGING HOME THE HARDWARE
Cruz Davis added another honor to his resume Friday, when he was named the Oscar Robertson Mid-Major Player of the Month for December by the United States Basketball Writers Association. Davis averaged 24.3 points, 5.3 assists and 2.8 rebounds per game in December, when he led the Dutchmen to a 5-1 record with upsets of Pittsburgh and Syracuse. That’ll play.
A BALANCED ATTACK
The Dutchmen had four players score at least 14 points Monday night, when Cruz Davis led the way with 22 points while Preston Edmead scored 16 points, Joshua DeCady added 15 points and Jaeden Roberts scored 14 points off the bench. It was the first time the Dutchmen had at least four players score at least 14 points in the same game since Nov. 8, 2024, when Jaquan Sanders (24 points), Jean Aranguren (18 points), Davis (15 points), Michael Graham (14 points) and Silas Sunday (14 points) all did so in a 90-76 win over Iona.
CRUZ’S FAST START
The individual news and notes from the 74-66 win over Quinnipiac way back on Dec. 21 fell by the wayside during the Christmas week in which both my wife and I got the flu, so I’ll mix those in here. And there’s no better place to start there than with the fast start against Quinnipiac for Cruz Davis, who scored the Dutchmen’s first 12 points in that game. Davis’ streak is the longest consecutive stretch of points by a Hofstra player to begin a game since at least the start of the 2013-14 season. I need to dig deeper when I have some time for that one. The previous longest stretch was held by Tareq Coburn, who scored the Dutchmen’s first 10 points in a 74-69 win over Towson on Jan. 24, 2021.
CRUZ-IN
Cruz Davis continued his impressive season over the last two games, when he followed up his 27-point effort against Quinnipiac by again leading the Dutchmen in scoring with 22 points in Monday’s win over Campbell. Davis has scored in double figures in all 14 games this season, the longest streak by a Hofstra player since Jean Aranguren scored in double figures in 15 straight games from Dec. 9, 2024 through Feb. 8, 2025. He has scored at least 20 points eight times, one shy of his total from last season, In addition, the 14 straight double-figure scoring efforts are a career-high for Davis, who previously scored in double figures in eight straight games from Jan. 20 through Feb. 13. Davis has scored in double figures in 35 of the 46 games in which he’s played for Hofstra after reaching double figures just five times over 28 games in his first two seasons at Iona and St. John’s. The Dutchmen are 22-13 when Davis scores in double figures.
THE 20/5/5 CLUB
Cruz Davis finished with 22 points, five rebounds and seven assists Monday. It was the second time this season Davis has collected at least 20 points, five rebounds and five assists and the first time since Nov. 10, when he had 24 points, 10 rebound and eight assists against Division II Molloy. Davis is the first Hofstra player with multiple 20/5/5 games in a single season since Tyler Thomas had four such games during the 2023-24 campaign.
HOW MANY TIMES DID CRUZ DAVIS SHOOT FROM THE FREE THROW LINE WITHOUT MISSING?
Wordy but worth it for the Ferris Bueller reference! Davis was 9-of-9 from the line Monday night, when he became the first Hofstra player to enjoy a perfect night from the line while hoisting at least nine attempts since Tyler Thomas was 10-of-10 in a 97-92 overtime win over High Point in the Gulf Coast Showcase title game on Nov 22, 2023. The previous Hofstra player to hit at least nine free throws without a miss in a regulation game was Tareq Coburn, who was 9-of-9 in an 82-73 win over William & Mary on Jan. 3, 2021. Hey! That’s five years ago today! How’d that happen?
PRESTO!
Preston Edmead continued the most impressive freshman season by a Hofstra player this decade by scoring 18 points — all in the second half — against Quinnipiac before he scored 16 points Monday night. Edmead has scored in double figures in 11 games this season, the most double-figure scoring efforts by a Hofstra freshman since Jalen Ray scored in double figures 11 times in 31 games in 2017-18. Edmead’s 197 points (14.1 ppg) through 14 games are the same number of points Antoine Agudio had through 14 games during his freshman season in 2004-05 and 10 fewer than Speedy Claxton had through 14 games during his freshman season in 1996-97. Pretty good company.
PRESTON VS. SPEEDY
Speaking of which…Preston Edmead’s first 14 games as a true freshman point guard have been just as impressive as Speedy Claxton’s first 14 games as a true freshman point guard way back in 1996-97.
Speedy Claxton: 14.8 points per game/2.6 assists per game/5.0 rebounds per game
Preston Edmead: 14.1 ppg/4.6 apg/1.7 rpg
Pretty quirky and neat!
DECADY DANCE
Joshua DeCady had his best game of the season Monday, when he tied a career-high with 15 points in the win over Campbell. DeCady, had two points in the win over Quinnipiac and nine points overall in his first four games of December, hit a career-high six field goals (6-of-11 overall, including 1-of-3 from 3-point land) against the Camels while adding four rebounds. He scored the Dutchmen’s first five points and had 14 points overall in the first half. The double-digit scoring effort was the third of the season and the fifth of his career for DeCady, who also had 15 points against Not Twitter Guy last Jan, 30. The Dutchmen are 5-0 since DeCady moved into the starting lineup Dec. 7.
GERMAN FOR STARTERS
German Plotnikov continued his solid glue guy work over the last two games, when he had 12 points and seven rebounds against Quinnipiac before finishing with two points and five rebounds against Campbell. Plotnikov, who hit another key late 3-pointer to help put away Quinnipiac, has scored in each of his last 23 games dating back to last Feb. 8. He scored at least eight points in 10 of 14 games this season after doing so just 10 times in 31 games last season.
VICTORY!
Junior newcomer Victory Onuetu continued to offer intrigue over the last two games, when he had two points, 11 rebounds and four blocks against Quinnipiac before finishing with six points and 12 rebonds against Campbell. The four-block performance against Quinnipiac was the second straight for Onuetu, whose four blocks against Syracuse on Dec. 13 were the most by a Hofstra player since Michael Graham racked up four blocks in an 80-67 win over Norfolk State on Dec. 9, 2024. The 12 rebounds on Monday tied the season-high for Onuetu, who also had 12 boards in consecutive games against Molloy and Bucknell from Nov. 10-14.
JAEDEN JUMPS INTO ACTION
Freshman Jaeden Roberts followed up a scoreless effort against Quinnipiac by scoring 14 points in 15 minutes off the bench against Campbell, Roberts, who played just five minutes against Quinnipiac, scored eight points in the first half Monday night as the Dutchmen began pulling away from the Camels. He has 39 points over the last five games — all Hofstra wins — after scoring just five points in three appearances over the first nine games of the season.
SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY!
Silas Sunday put together two more solid games as the backup to Victory Onuetu by scoring two points and collecting five rebounds against Quinnipiac before finishing with eight points and six rebounds against Campbell. Sunday hit all five of his field goal attempts in the two wins. His 4-of-4 shooting effort Monday were his most makes without a miss since he went 5-of-5 against Monmouth last Feb. 20. The six rebounds Monday were the most for Sunday since he pulled down a season-high nine rebounds against Columbia on Dec. 3. Sunday has scored in all 14 games this season, four more than his previous career-long streak set from last Jan. 9 through Feb. 8.
BIGGIE BUSY OFF THE BENCH
Biggie Patterson continued playing a reserve role behind Joshua DeCady over the last two games, when he had 11 points and five rebounds against Quinnipiac before finishing with thee points and two rebounds against Campbell, Patterson played 13 minutes Monday, his fewest minutes since he logged a season-low 11 minutes against Columbia on Dec. 3. He is averaging 8.0 points and 5.4 rebounds in five games as a reserve after averaging 10.3 points and 5.1 rebounds over the first nine games, all as a starter.
CLUB TRILLION CAMEOS FOR TSYNKEVICH AND REAVES
Seniors Alex Tsynkevich and Joshua Aaron Reaves each played the final 1:04 Monday night, when neither player recorded a stat. The action was the first for both players since Dec. 10, when they combined to score nine points over 24 minutes in the 92-23 win over Division III Old Westbury.
OVER THE AIR
This afternoon’s game is slated to be carried live on FloHoops.com (subscription required, click here for options) and nowhere else in the New York area. We had a good run without having to subscribe to Flo throughout the non-conference season, but it ends here. Hofstra will provide a radio feed as well as live stats at the Pride Productions hub.
SCOUTING DREXEL
The Dragons, under 10th-year head coach Zach Spiker, are 6-9 overall and 0-2 in the CAA after falling to UNC Wilmington, 65-53, on Wednesday night.
The Dutchmen and Dragons had three common opponents during non-league play, The Dutchmen earned wins over La Salle (63-58), Pennsylvania (77-60) and Syracuse (70-69), all of whom beat Drexel.
The Dutchmen, who were picked to finish tied for eighth in the CAA preseason poll, are ranked a CAA-best 101st at KenPom.com. That’s 61 spots higher than they were to open the season. The Dragons, who were picked to finish 10th, are ranked 289th, 51 spots lower higher than their preseason ranking but eight spots higher than their season low prior to their game against Mount St. Mary's on Dec. 19.
According to KenPom.com, the Dutchmen rank third in the CAA in offensive efficiency (112.2 points per 100 possessions) and second in defensive efficiency (105.1 points per 100 possessions) while averaging 67.4 possessions per 40 minutes, the ninth-most in the league. The Dragons rank 11th in the CAA in offensive efficiency (102.0 points per 100 possessions) and 11th in defensive efficiency (112.4 points per 100 possessions) while averaging 66.2 possessions per 40 minutes, which is also 11th-most in the league. Stonehenge bias? GOOGLE IT CRAIN
The Dragons return nine players from last year’s team, which might be some kind of modern record. Junior Shane Blakeney leads Drexel with 12.3 points per game, is tied for second in rebounding at 4.9 rebounds per game and is second in assists at 2.6 assists per game. Junior Kevon Vanderhorst, who is in his second season at Drexel after opening his career at Brunswick Community College, is averaging 10.3 points and a team-high 3.1 assists per game. Senior Eli Beard, who opened his career with a season apiece at New Mexico Junior College and Bossier Parish Community College before playing tow years at Division III Mary Hardin-Baylor, is averaging 10.0 points per game. Junior Villiam Garcia Adsten, who is in his second season at Drexel after opening his career at Pacific, leads the Dragons with 5.6 rebounds per game. Graduate student Garfield Turner, who opened his career with one season at Odessa College before spending two years at Drexel and redshirting last year, is averaging 4.8 reboudns per game.
KenPom.com predicts an 74-66 win for the Dutchmen. Per the wise guys in Vegas, for entertainment purposes only, the Dutchmen are 6 1/2-point favorites. The Dutchmen are 10-2 against the spread this season.
ALL-TIME VS. DREXEL
Hofstra is 51-49 against Drexel in a series that began during the 1958-59 season. The Dragons won the lone game between the teams last season on Jan. 20, when the Dutchmen squandered a 12-point second half lead in a 60-55 loss. Oh well, probably wasn’t the worst thing to happen that day. Even with the defeat, the Dutchmen have won 18 of the last 21 games between the schools.
The Dutchmen and Dragons have opposed one another as members of the East Coast Conference, the North Atlantic Conference/America East and the CAA. Drexel is Hofstra’s second-most common opponent behind only Delaware, which lost a conference game last night to something named a Jacksonville State. Progress, I guess?
Last year marked just the second time since 1982-83 that Hofstra and Drexel were in the same conference but played each other just once in the regular season. The teams also played once apiece due to the unbalanced schedule in 2022-23. The Dutchmen are slated to host the Dragons in the CAA regular season finale on Mar. 3, so at least some justice is returning to the world.
THINGS YOU CAN SHOUT ON TWITTER (OR BLUESKY) IF CALLS GO DO NOT GO HOFSTRA’S WAY
Ha ha you weren’t mentioned in the Always Sunny/Abbott Elementary crossover bias! (That was Saint Joseph’s)
At least the Phillies re-sign their best power hitters bias! (It’s not that hard, David Stearns)
Charlie Day didn’t go to your school bias! (But we’re gonna try and beat you anyway)
Shaq of the NAC bias! (An oldie but goodie, especially since Malik Rose is the centerpiece of the Drexel display at the Palestra)
