Twenty-three years ago this month, hot off the presses.
The hopes of an unbeaten season remained alive after a rough start Friday night, when the Flying Dutchmen spotted Mount St. Mary’s the game’s first 12 points before coming back to earn a 79-61 victory at the Arena. The Dutchmen will face a tall task this afternoon, when they visit defending Conference USA champion Marshall. Here’s a look back at the win over the Mountaineers and a look ahead to the Thundering Herd (great nickname).
THE MOST RECENT GAME SUMMARIZED IN ONE PARAGRAPH
The Dutchmen trailed by as many as 15 before storming back to cruise past Mount St. Mary’s. The Dutchmen ended the game on a 78-45 run. Can you figure out the score at the Dutchmen’s biggest deficit? Show all your work. Justin Wright-Foreman (20 points, seven rebounds and five assists) overcame a slow start to lead the Dutchmen in scoring while Eli Pemberton and Desure Buie had 18 points apiece. Stafford Trueheart (seven points, seven rebounds) had one of his patented glue games while graduate senior big men Jacquil Taylor and Dan Dwyer combined for nine points, 16 rebounds and three blocks.
3 STARS OF THE GAME (vs. Mount St. Mary’s 11/9)
3: Justin Wright-Foreman
2: Desure Buie
1: Eli Pemberton
SEASON STANDINGS (duh)
Justin Wright-Foreman 3
Desure Buie 2
Eli Pemberton 1
COACHSPEAK: “Obviously, a rough start, to say the least. I don’t know if we’ve ever had a rougher start than that. It was 12-0, it was 16-1. When you wait eight months to play, then you’ve got 30 practices and them the night comes and it takes forever to get down the floor. I guess that was the reason. Anyway, I thought that the story was that we kept our poise. We knew we still believed in ourselves, we knew that we could overcome that, we knew that we could just, possession by possession, win the battle and swim back. And we did.”
WAS THIS A UNICORN SCORE?
No. The Dutchmen have won at least one other game 79-61. They beat Elon by that score on Jan. 10, 2015. What’s a unicorn score? It’s a term coined by Mets superfan and blogger Greg Prince to describe a score by which the Mets had never previously won.
NOT-SO-RANDOM SELECTION FROM THE 1993-94 JUKEBOX
“Play to the power, play to the crowd with your big hit sound.”
FOR STARTERS
The Dutchmen won their fifth straight season opener and improved to 48-35 all-time in season openers. The season opener winning streak is the longest for Hofstra in the Division I era and the school’s longest since a five-game winning streak from 1959-63, when the Dutchmen were directed by Butch van Breda Kolff and Paul Lynner. Joe Mihalich improved to 13-8 in season openers (5-1 at Hofstra, 8-7 at Niagara).
SPUTTERING START
The 12-0 deficit for the Dutchmen was the biggest game-opening run by an opponent in the Joe Mihalich era (2013-present). Prior to Friday, the biggest game-opening run allowed by the Dutchmen under Mihalich was produced Jan 27, 2014, when Towson raced out to a 10-0 lead and went on to a 76-58 win. The 12-0 run for Mount St. Mary’s was the largest by an opponent since, and I suspected this in real time, IUPUI took a 13-0 lead in that gawdawful CBI game that served as Tom Pecora’s finale on Mar. 17, 2010. That was a long time ago. Let us never speak of the CBI ever again, except to make fun of it.
DOUBLE-DIGIT DUTCH COMEBACK
The Flying Dutchmen came back from a deficit of at least 10 points for the first time this season (duh) and the 17th time in six seasons under Joe Mihalich.
vs. Mount St. Mary’s 11/9/18 (trailed by 15 in 1H, won 79-61)
vs. Delaware 1/27/18 (trailed by 11 in 2H, won 64-59)
vs. Towson 1/11/18 (trailed by 10 in 2H, won 76-73)
vs. Northeastern 1/2/18 (trailed by 12 in 1H, won 71-70)
vs. Monmouth 12/6/17 (trailed by 14 in 2H, won 85-84)
vs. Drexel 2/4/17 (trailed by 13 in 2H, won 79-77)
vs. Delaware 2/2/17 (trailed by 14 in 1H, won 73-65)
vs. Coppin State 11/11/16 (trailed by 11 in 1H, won 74-72)
vs. UNCW 2/25/16 ( trailed by 18 in 1H, won 70-69)
vs. Drexel 1/30/16 (trailed by 12 in 2H, won 70-64)
vs. Sacred Heart 12/28/15 (trailed by 11 in 2H, won 80-73)
vs. St. Bonaventure 11/28/15 (trailed by 10 in 1H, won 89-83)
vs. Canisius 11/13/15 (trailed by 18 in 1H, won 96-85)
vs. Towson 2/18/15 (trailed by 14 in 1H, won 87-82)
vs. UNCW 1/3/15 (trailed by 13 in 1H, won 68-56)
vs. UNCW 2/8/14 (trailed by 15 in 2H, won 61-52)
vs. Charleston 1/11/14 (trailed by 14 in 1H, won 75-71)
COME BACK AND STAY (AHEAD) FOR GOOD THIS TIME
The 15-point deficit for the Dutchmen was the largest overcome in a victory since Feb. 25, 2016, when they came back from an 18-point deficit to edge UNC Wilmington, 70-69. In addition, Friday night marks the first time the Dutchmen have trailed by double digits and come back to win by at least 10 points since the 2015-16 season opener, when Canisius raced out to an 18-point lead before the Dutchmen earned a 96-85 win,
FRESHMAN STREAK ENDS
Redshirt freshman Kevin Schutte was the only freshman to make his Dutchmen debut Friday night, when he was scoreless while playing the final minute. This marks the first time since 2008, when the Dutchmen had no freshmen on the team, that a freshman did not score on opening night. Here are some notable debuts by Hofstra freshmen in the CAA era (2001-present):
2017: Jalen Ray: 10 pts/2 assists vs. Army-West Point
2017: Matija Radovic: 5 pts/5 rebs vs. Army-West Point
2016: Eli Pemberton: 20 pts/4 rebs/1 steal vs. Coppin State
2015: Justin Wright-Foreman: 0 pts/1 reb vs. Canisius
2015: Desure Buie: 2 pts/2 assists/1 steal vs. Canisius
2014: Rokas Gustys: 4 pts/10 rebs vs. Jacksonville
2014: Andre Walker: 4 pts/11 rebs/6 blks vs. Jacksonville
2013: Chris Jenkins: 17 pts/2 rebs/1 blk/1 steal vs. Monmouth
2013: Jamall Robinson: 8 pts/4 rebs/2 assists vs. Monmouth
2012: Jordan Allen: 2 pts/1 reb vs. Monmouth
2011: Moussa Kone: 6 pts/2 rebs/1 steal vs. Long Island U.
2010: Shemiye McLendon: 16 pts/4 rbs/2 assists vs. Farmingdale State
2010: Stephen Nwaukoni: 8 rebs vs. Farmingdale State
2010: Roland Brown: 4 pts/5 rebs/1 steal/1 blk vs. Farmingdale State
2009: Chaz Williams: 7 pts/6 assists/5 rebs/37 mins vs. Kansas
2009: Halil Kanacevic: 12 pts/12 rebs/3 blks 31 mins vs. Kansas
2007: Charles Jenkins: 5 pts/9 rebs/1 assist/1 steal vs. Holy Cross
2007: Nathaniel Lester: 2 rebs vs. Holy Cross
2007: Greg Washington: 2 rebs/2 blks/1 assist/1 steal vs. Holy Cross
2005: Arminas Urbutis: 6 pts vs. Florida International
2005: Greg Johnson: 12 pts vs. Florida International
2004: Antoine Agudio: 20 pts vs. Florida International
2003: Loren Stokes: 2 pts vs. Marist
2003: Carlos Rivera: 10 pts vs. Marist
2001: Kenny Adeleke: 10 pts vs. Florida Atlantic
COMPLETING THE TRANSFER
Three transfers made their Dutchmen debuts Friday night, when Jacquil Taylor started and collected six points, 10 rebounds and one block in 21 minutes while Dan Dwyer (three points, six rebounds, two blocks) and Tareq Coburn (two points, two rebounds) each chipped in off the bench. Taylor is the first newcomer to pull down 10 rebounds in his Hofstra debut since He Whom We Shall Not Name (But He Made The NCAA Tournament For Someone Else) had 12 rebounds against Monmouth on Nov. 9, 2012. Taylor is the first transfer to open his Hofstra career with at least 10 rebounds since Miklos Szabo had 11 rebounds against East Tennessee State on Nov. 16, 2018. Here are some notable debuts by transfers since 1991:
2017: Joel Angus III: 13 pts/6 rebs vs. Army-West Point
2017: Kenny Wormley: 3 pts/2 rebs/4 assists vs. Kennesaw State
2016: Deron Powers: 12 pts/5 assists/4 rebs vs. Coppin State
2016: Hunter Sabety: 2 pts/5 rebs/1 blk vs. Coppin State
2015: Denton Koon: 14 pts/5 rebs/1 steal/1 blk vs. Canisius
2014: Juan’ya Green: 14 pts/9 assists/5 rebs vs. Jacksonville
2014: Ameen Tanksley: 16 pts/3 assists/2 assists/1 blk vs. Jacksonville
2014: Brian Bernardi: 22 pts/3 assists/2 rebs/1 steal vs. Jacksonville (6-8 3PT)
2014: Malik Nichols: 15 pts/3 assists/2 rbs/1 blk vs. Jacksonville**
2013: Zeke Upshaw: 22 pts/3 assists/3 rebs vs. Monmouth (2-8 3PT)
2013: Dion Nesmith: 10 pts/5 assists/2 rebs vs. Monmouth
2012: Taran Buie: 14 pts/2 assists/2 rbs vs. South Dakota State
2012: [name redacted]: 12 pts vs. Monmouth
2012: Daquan Brown: 2 pts/1 assist vs. Tulane
2011: Stevie Mejia: 7 pts/1 rb/4 assists/1 steal vs. Long Island
2011: Bryant Crowder: 13 pts/6 rbs/1 steal vs. Rhode Island**
2010: Mike Moore: 13 pts/4 rbs/4 assists vs. Farmingdale State
2010: Dwan McMillan: 15 pts/2 rbs/6 assists1 steal vs. Farmingdale State**
2010: Brad Kelleher: 2 pts vs. Florida Atlantic**
2008: Tony Dennison: 5 pts/4 rbs/1 assist vs. Clemson**
2008: Cornelius Vines: 12 pts/3 rbs/3 steals vs. Clemson**
2008: Miklos Szabo: 4 pts/11 rbs/2 assists/1 steal vs. E. Tennessee State**
2007: Darren Townes: 5 pts/5 rbs/1 steal/1 blocked shot vs. Holy Cross**
2007: Dane Johnson: 3 pts/1 rb/3 blocked shots vs. Holy Cross**
2004: Kenny Harris: 3 pts/1 rb/1 assist/2 steals vs. Florida International**
2004: Adrian Uter: 0 pts/2 rbs/1 block vs. Florida International**
2000: Osei Miller: 2 pts/2 rbs vs. Northern Illinois
1999: Greg Springfield: 7 pts/5 rbs/10 blocked shots vs. New Mexico State***
1998: Jason Hernandez: 7 pts/ 2 rbs/1 assist/2 steals vs. Maryland
1998: Abdul Sylla 0 pts/3 rbs vs. Youngstown State
1997: Mike Renfro 6 pts/3 rbs/1 assist/1 steal vs. Bucknell**
1996: Lance Dunkley 2 pts/3 rbs/1 assist vs. Stony Brook**
1996: Duane Posey 8 pts/4 rbs/1 assist/2 blks vs. Stony Brook
1995: Seth Meyers 14 pts/5 rbs vs. Stony Brook
1995: Lawrence Thomas 20 pts/4 rbs/2 assists vs. Villanova
1994: Jamil Greene 1 pt/2 rbs/1 assist vs. New Hampshire**
1993: Chris Johnke 0 pts/5 rbs vs. Iona**
1991: Demetrius Dudley 33 pts/7 rbs vs. Navy
**--junior college transfer
***--10 blocked shots are a school record
DOUBLE DIGIT JWF
By scoring a team-high 21 points Friday night, Justin Wright-Foreman extended his streak of double-digit scoring efforts to 54 straight games, the second-longest streak by a Hofstra player since 1989-90 (as far back as my records go, at least at home). The only player with a longer streak in the last 29 seasons is Charles Jenkins, who ended his career by scoring in double figures in his final 58 games for the Dutchmen. In addition, Wright-Foreman’s streak is the fourth-longest active streak in Division I, per Hofstra SID Stephen Gorchov.
Charles Jenkins 58 straight games 12/12/09-3/15/11***
Justin Wright-Foreman: 54 straight games 12/11/16-present
Antoine Agudio 48 straight games 3/6/06-1/17/08****
Juan’ya Green: 43 straight games 11/14/14-12/9/15
Loren Stokes 41 straight games 2/20/06-3/14/07***
Loren Stokes: 34 straight games 1/14/04-1/31/05
***streak ended with the end of the player’s Hofstra career
****Agudio had three DNPs during his streak
LUCKY THIRTEEN
With his 20 points Friday night, Justin Wright-Foreman remained in 13th place on the all-time Hofstra scoring list. He enters today 24 points away from surpassing Rick Apodaca for 12th place.
11.) Leroy Allen 1,435 (1983-87)
12.) Rick Apodaca 1,422 (1999-2003)
13.) JUSTIN WRIGHT-FOREMAN 1,399 (2015-present)
14.) Ken Rood 1,368 (1973-77)
MIHALICH MOVES UP
Joe Mihalich recorded his 354th win as a Division I head coach Friday night, which moved him into a tie for 180th place all-time with James Snyder. Mihalich is one win behind Long Beach State head coach Dan Monson, who holds sole possession of 179th place.
SECOND HELPINGS
The Dutchmen are looking to go 2-0 for the second straight season but only the fourth time in the CAA era (also 2001-02 and 2015-16) and the 28th time in program history.
Joe Mihalich-coached teams have opened 2-0 seven times (1999-2000, 2000-01, 2003-04, 2005-06, 2007-08, 2015-16, 2017-18).
OVER THE AIR
This afternoon’s game will be aired on ESPN+. Hofstra will also offer live audio at the Pride Productions hub. Marshall’s live stats program can be found here.
MARSHALL AND CONFERENCE USA
Hofstra is 2-0 all-time against Marshall. The Dutchmen won the most recent meeting between the teams Nov. 18, 2012, when three dudes whose names we will never utter again combined to score 47 points in a 103-100 double overtime victory at the Arena that gave the Dutchmen the title in one of those silly tournaments they had to participate in as punishment for accepting a CBI bid. As it turned out, the win would quite literally be the last good thing to happen to the Dutchmen all season. Let us never speak of it again.
Marshall opened its season Wednesday with a 105-77 win over Eastern Kentucky. The Thundering Herd (once again, great nickname) was picked to finish second in C-USA this season. The Herd returns the top three leading scorers — including Jon Elmore, who is one of the three players in the country with a longer streak of consecutive double-digit scoring efforts (65 straight games) than Justin Wright-Foreman — from a team that went 25-11 last season, won the Conference USA Tournament, reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 31 years and then beat Wichita State in the first round for the first NCAA win in school history.
After today, the Thundering Herd’s next four opponents are all teams that are also on the Dutchmen’s schedule. Marshall hosts Mount St. Mary’s Wednesday and North Carolina A&T next Monday before visiting Maryland on Nov. 23 to complete this tournament that’s not really a tournament. The Herd then greet William & Mary on Nov. 28.
At KenPom.com this morning, Hofstra is ranked 151st while Marshall is ranked 83rd. KenPom.com predicts a 90-81 win for the Thundering Herd. Per the wise guys in Vegas, for entertainment purposes only, the Dutchmen are 7.5-point underdogs. The Dutchmen are 1-0 against the spread this season.
Hofstra is 25-25 all-time against current Conference USA schools. The Dutchmen last played a C-USA school on Dec. 3, 2016, when they beat Florida Atlantic, 88-80.
THINGS YOU CAN SHOUT ON TWITTER IF CALLS GO DO NOT GO HOFSTRA’S WAY
Chad Pennington bias! (Long before he became a star-crossed Jets quarterback, Pennington was a freshman quarterback leading Marshall to a 30-28 win over the previously unbeaten Flying Dutchmen in the 1995 regular season finale. I was there. It was cool.)
Randy Moss bias! (Two years later, Moss toyed with the Mid-American Conference by racking up 1,820 yards and 26 touchdowns in his lone season of college football)
Rick Reed bias! (The criminally underrated former Mets pitcher played at Marshall)
Jeff Montgomery bias! (The former Royals closer also played at Marshall)
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