Because it's FUN to see this over and over again.
Justin Wright-Foreman continued cementing his legendary status Saturday afternoon, when he sank a I-still-can’t-believe-he-made-that 34-footer at the buzzer to cap a late comeback and lift the Flying Dutchmen to their 10th straight victory, a stunning 75-72 win over Northeastern. Speaking of I-still-can’t-believe-he-made-that buzzer shots, the Dutchmen will look to remain undefeated in the CAA when they visit William & Mary *twitches* tonight. Here’s a look back at the instant classic win against the Huskies and a look ahead to the Fighting Daniel Dixons.
THE MOST RECENT GAME SUMMARIZED IN ONE PARAGRAPH
The Dutchmen’s winning streak appeared doomed when they trailed 70-61 with five minutes to play, but Justin Wright-Foreman scored 12 of his career-high 42 points in a game-ending 14-2 run that concluded, of course, with the euphoric game-winning buzzer-beating 3-pointer seen and heard around the world. Jacquil Taylor (10 points), the only other Dutchmen in double figures, had the other two points — a pair of free throws, seriously, bigs here can hit those now? — in the game-ending surge and made Wright-Foreman’s dramatic shot possible by tapping out Vasa Pusica’s missed 3-pointer with four seconds left. Desure Buie has seven points, five assists and four rebounds while Tareq Coburn had seven rebounds.
3 STARS OF THE GAME (vs. Northeastern 1/5)
3: Justin Wright-Foreman
2: Justin Wright-Foreman
1: Justin Wright-Foreman
(wait, I probably can’t do that, can I?)
3 STARS OF THE GAME (vs. Northeastern 1/5)
3: Justin Wright-Foreman
2: Jacquil Taylor
1: Desure Buie
SEASON STANDINGS
Justin Wright-Foreman 43
Eli Pemberton 14
Desure Buie 12
Tareq Coburn 10
Jacquil Taylor 9
Jalen Ray 4
Stafford Trueheart 2
Kenny Wormley 1
Dan Dwyer 1
COACHSPEAK: “He’s just a marvelous, marvelous basketball player. Gives it every game. Every game, everyday, he does something that you just say ‘What?’”
NOT-SO-RANDOM SELECTION FROM THE 1993-94
More to come with this one.
WAS THIS A UNICORN SCORE?
No! But 75-72 wins aren’t as frequent as you might think, The Dutchmen most recently won a game 75-72 when they edged Vermont on Jan. 23, 1978. That was not only before Hofstra and Vermont were NAC rivals, it was before I started kindergarten! The Dutchmen have recorded five unicorn scores this season.
WE’RE GOING STREAKING
The Dutchmen won their 10th straight game Sunday. It is the longest winning streak for the program since the program’s Division I-record 18-game winning streak during the 2000-01 season and the 11th time in school history the Dutchmen have won at least 10 straight games.
WE’RE GOING STREAKING ACROSS THE NATION
Houston’s 15-game winning streak was snapped when the Cougars fell to Temple 73-69 last night, so the Dutchmen now have the third-longest winning streak in the country. This is some pretty good company:
1.) Michigan, 15 games (all season)
2.) Virginia, 14 games (all season)
3.) HOFSTRA, 10 GAMES (Nov. 26-present)
HOME SWEET HOME
With the win over Delaware, the Dutchmen improved to 10-0 at home this season while extending their overall home winning streak to 13 games dating back to Feb. 15. The 10 straight wins to open the home schedule are the most by a Dutchmen squad since the 2005-06 team won its first 14 home games (13-0 regular season, 1-0 NIT). Per Hofstra SID Stephen Gorchov, those 14 wins concluded a 21-game home winning streak that lasted from Jan. 22, 2005 to Mar. 16, 2006 and is the longest home winning streak for the Dutchmen in the CAA era.
THRICE AS NICE
The Dutchmen are 3-0 in CAA play for the fourth time since joining the league in 2001-02. They opened 4-0 in 2014-15 and 5-0 in 2006-07 and 2010-11.
LAST TO LOSE
The CAA schedule is only two weeks old, but the Dutchmen are already the only unbeaten team in league play. This is the third time Hofstra has been the last unbeaten atop the CAA. The Dutchmen were the final unbeaten team at 4-0 in 2014-15 and 5-0 in 2010-11.
Since 2001-02, when the CAA expanded to include the America East Four, the last unbeaten in league play has won the CAA and reached the NCAA Tournament five times. UNC Wilmington did it in 2001-02 and 2016-17 while Delaware (2013-14), VCU (2006-07) and Old Dominion (2004-05) did it once apiece).
THE F IN JWF STANDS FOR FORTY
Justin Wright-Foreman reached some even more rarefied air Saturday afternoon, when his buzzer-beating, game-winning 3-pointer gave him his first career 40-point game. It was also the first 40-point game by a Hofstra player since Charles Jenkins scored 40 points in an 89-85 overtime win over Binghamton on DATE HERE, 2011. That was 268 games ago!
Wright-Foreman’s 42-point effort also marked the first time a Hofstra player has scored 40 points in regulation since Speedy Claxton, who had the best view of Wright-Foreman’s game-winner from the home bench, scored 40 in an 80-72 win over Maine on Jan. 21, 2000. That was 603 games ago!
Wright-Foreman’s 40-point game was the 13th in program history. He is tied for seventh place on the single-game scoring list and tied for third on the single-game scoring list in the Division I era. Demetrius Dudley scored 44 points against Central Connecticut State on Feb. 9, 2003, Rich Laurel scored 43 points against St. Francis on Dec. 16, 1976 and Bernard Tomlin scored 42 points against Oral Roberts on Dec, 10, 1974.
Lastly, Wright-Foreman became the 20th player in CAA history to record a 40-point game and the first since Drexel’s Tramaine Isbell scored 40 against Elon on Jan. 25, 2018 His 42 points are tied for the seventh-most by a CAA player in a single game in league.
YOU’RE JUSTIN WRIGHT-FOREMAN! YOU PLAY BASKETBALL FOR THE HOFSTRA FLYING DUTCHMEN!
With his 42 points against Northeastern, Justin Wright-Foreman extended his streak of double-digit scoring efforts to 69 straight games, the most ever by a Hofstra player. In addition, Wright-Foreman’s streak is now the second-longest active streak in Division I, per Hofstra SID Stephen Gorchov.
Justin Wright-Foreman: 69 straight games 12/11/16-present
Charles Jenkins 58 straight games 12/12/09-3/15/11***
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
The 69 straight double-digit scoring efforts tie Wright-Foreman with future actor Lew Alcindor, who enjoyed his streak for UCLA from 1967-69. Even the peskiest little kid in an airplane cockpit wouldn’t declare Wright-Foreman doesn’t run down the court.
ALL BY HIMSELF
Justin Wright-Foreman recorded his fifth 30-point game of the season Saturday afternoon and the 16th of his career. That’s the most by a Hofstra player since at least the 1989-90 season. But Wright-Foreman has played just 106 games and registered all of his 30-point games in his last 65 games dating back to Jan. 2, 2017. Here is the list of all players with multiple 30-point games since 1989-90 (career games in parenthesis).
Justin Wright-Foreman 16 (106)
Demetrius Dudley 12 (55)
Charles Jenkins 12 (128)
Antoine Agudio 10 (122)
Speedy Claxton 8 (119)
Loren Stokes 7 (124)
Zeke Upshaw 3 (33)
Mike Moore 3 (65)
Ameen Tanksley 2 (68)
Rick Apodaca 2 (108)
John Mavroukas 2 (90)
THE 30/30/30/30/30 (AT LEAST) CLUB
The five 30-point games this season by Justin Wright-Foreman mark the sixth time since 1989-90 that a Hofstra player has recorded at least five 30-point performances. Wright-Foreman, not surprisingly, has done it two straight years. The only other player to collect at least five 30-point games in back-to-back years since 1989-90 is Demetrius Dudley.
Justin Wright-Foreman 7 (2017-18)
Demetrius Dudley 7 (1991-92)
Antoine Agudio 6 (2007-08)
Speedy Claxton 6 (1999-2000)
Justin Wright-Foreman 5 (2018-19)
Demetrius Dudley 5 (1992-93)
THE BACK-TO-BACK 30/30 CLUB
Justin Wright-Foreman produced his second straight 30-point game Sunday. It was the fourth time in his career he has scored 30 points in consecutive games, the most such back-to-back efforts since at least 1989-90. Only two players have scored 30 points in three straight games since 1989-90. The last to do it? Speedy Claxton, who put together his streak from Jan. 14-21, 2000. Demetrius Dudley also had a three-game 30-point streak from Nov. 23-30, 1991. Here is the entire list of Hofstra players to score 30 points in back-to-back games since 1989:
Justin Wright-Foreman 12/30/18-1/5/18 (34 vs. Drexel, 42 vs. Northeastern)
Justin Wright-Foreman 1/7/18-1/11/18 (39 vs. Elon, 35 vs. Towson)
Justin Wright-Foreman 12/9-12/12/17 (30 vs. Rider, 33 vs. SUNY-Stony Brook)
Justin Wright-Foreman 1/21-1/26/17 (30 vs. Northeastern, 30 vs. Drexel)
Charles Jenkins 12/8-12/11/10 (40 vs. Binghamton 32 vs. Florida Atlantic)
Charles Jenkins 2/16-2/20/10 (30 vs. Delaware, 31 vs. Rider)
Antoine Agudio 12/1-12/5/07 (34 vs. UNCW, 36 vs. Fordham)
Loren Stokes 1/21-1/26/06 (32 vs. Northeastern, 31 vs. Towson)
Speedy Claxton 12/18/99-12/22/99 (39 vs. Iona, 31 vs. St. John’s)
Speedy Claxton 1/14/00-1/21/00 (30 vs. Vermont, 40 vs. Hartford, 40 vs. Maine)
John Mavroukas 1/6/95-1/8/95 (35 vs. New Hampshire, 33 vs. Vermont)
Demetrius Dudley 11/23/91-11/30/91 (33 vs. Navy, 32 vs. Lehigh, 30 vs. Manhattan)
Demetrius Dudley 2/6/92-2/8/92 (37 vs. Towson State, 33 vs. Buffalo)
JWF IS A TOP TEN HIT
It took almost 2,000 words, but we found something Justin Wright-Foreman DIDN’T do Saturday, when he remained in ninth place on the all-time Hofstra scoring list Sunday. He’s just 13 points away from eighth-place David Taylor, so Wright-Foreman has a pretty good chance of moving up the list tonight.
8.) David Taylor 1,818 (1979-83)
9.) JUSTIN WRIGHT-FOREMAN 1,806 (2015-present)
10.) Norman Richardson 1,677 (1997-2001)
11.) Frank Walker 1,437 (1985-89)
12.) Leroy Allen 1,435 (1983-87)
THEY SHOULD JUST NAME THE AWARD AFTER HIM AT THIS POINT
Justin Wright-Foreman earned his fifth CAA player of the week award Monday. He also earned the awards for the weeks ending Nov. 18, Nov. 25, Dec. 9 and Dec. 30. He might be good.
PEMBERTON’S CLIMB PAUSES
Eli Pemberton, the newest member of the Hofstra 1,000-point club, scored eight points Saturday and remains in 32nd place on the all-time scoring list. He enters tonight eight points away from moving past Ameen Tanksley into 31st place.
31.) Ameen Tanksley 1,090 (2014-16)
32.) ELI PEMBERTON 1,083 (2016-present)
33.) Derrick Flowers 1,069 (1987-91)
34.) Darius Burton 1,060 (1993-97)
35.) Percy Johnson 1,045 (1950-53)
36.) Jim Shaffer 1,022 (1991-95)
37.) John Irving 1,018 (1974-77)
HE’S JAMMIN’
Joe Mihalich earned his 101st win at Hofstra on Saturday. That broke a tie with Jack McDonald, the first-ever coach of the Flying Dutchmen, and lifted Mihalich into sole possession of seventh place on the all-time Hofstra wins list. He enters tonight needing one win to tie Dick Berg for sixth place.
1.) Butch van Breda Kolff 215
2.) Tom Pecora 155
3.) Paul Lynner 152
4.) Frank Reilly 146
5.) Jay Wright 122
6.) Dick Berg 102
7.) JOE MIHALICH 101
8.) Jack McDonald 100
THE EARLE OVINGTON BLVD. WINNING STREAK IS OVER
A fun, quirky streak came to an end Tuesday night, when the Islanders fell to the Carolina Never Whalers, 4-3. That snapped a nine-game winning streak for the Hempstead Turnpike/Earle Ovington Boulevard neighbors dating back to Dec. 23 (six wins for the Islanders, three for the Dutchmen. That was the third-longest Hofstra hoops/Islanders winning streak ever:
11 straight, Jan. 12-26, 1980 (7 Islanders, 4 Hofstra)
10 straight, Jan. 4-19, 1983 (6 Islanders, 4 Hofstra)
9 straight, Dec. 23, 2018-Jan. 7, 2019 (6 Islanders, 3 Hofstra)
Good news, Islanders fans: Every previous time the Islanders and Hofstra have combined to win nine straight games, you’ve won the Stanley Cup!
OVER THE AIR
Hofstra will provide a video and radio feed of tonight’s game, as well as live stats, at the Pride Productions hub.
SCOUTING WILLIAM & MARY
The Tribe, under 16th-season head coach Tony Shaver, are 7-9 this season and 3-1 in CAA play. The Tribe beat Drexel, 84-66, last Saturday.
The Dutchmen and Tribe had one common foe during non-league play. Both teams lost to Marshall, which beat Hofstra 76-72 on Nov. 11 and William & Mary 84-64 on Nov. 28. Both have faced Delaware and Drexel in CAA play. The Dutchmen beat the Blue Hens 91-46 on Dec. 28 while the Tribe fell, 58-56, Jan. 3.
The Dutchmen, who were picked third in the CAA preseason poll, were ranked 76th at KenPom.com this morning. The Tribe, who were picked fourth, were ranked 196th at KenPom.com as of early this morning.
According to KenPom.com, the Dutchmen rank first in the CAA in offensive efficiency (112.0) and second in defensive efficiency (103.2). The Tribe rank fourth in the CAA in offensive efficiency (105.6) and sixth in defensive efficiency (108.1).
The Tribe are led by a pair of juniors. Forward Nathan Knight is averaging a team-high 18.6 points per game to go along with 7.1 rebounds per game. Guard Justin Pierce ranks second on the team in scoring with 15.5 points per game while averaging 9.2 rebounds per game.
KenPom.com predicts a 78-74 win by Hofstra. Per the wise guys in Vegas, for entertainment purposes only, the Dutchmen are 3-point favorites. Hofstra is 11-4 against the spread this season.
ALL-TIME VS. WILLIAM & MARY
Hofstra is 20-13 against William & Mary in a series that began when the Dutchmen joined the CAA prior to the 2001-02 season. The teams have split the season series each of the last two years.
AN OUT-OF-NOWHERE RIVALRY
The Dutchmen barely crossed paths with William & Mary during their first decade-plus in the CAA, but the Tribe have become Hofstra’s biggest rival since Joe Mihalich became head coach in 2013. Of the last 12 games between the two teams, eight have been decided by six points or fewer or in overtime, including both games last season, when the Dutchmen fell, 90-87, in the CAA opener in Williamsburg before earning a 90-84 win in Hempstead.
Five of those games have gone down to the last second, including the goddamn Daniel Dixon debacles. Overall, the Dutchmen are just 2-5 against the Tribe in these “close shaves.”
2/15/18: Hofstra 90, William & Mary 84
12/30/17: William & Mary 90, Hofstra 87
1/2/17: William & Mary 95, Hofstra 93 (OT)
3/6/16: Hofstra 70, William & Mary 67***
2/11/16: Hofstra 86, William & Mary 80
3/8/15: William & Mary 92, Hofstra 91 (2OT)***
2/22/15: William & Mary 80, Hofstra 78
2/26/14: William & Mary 79, Hofstra 74
***CAA semifinals
In addition, when the Dutchmen led 48-36 at the half in Hempstead last season, it snapped a streak of eight straight games in which they reached halftime separated by seven points or fewer in each of their last eight games as well as a seven-game streak in which they reached halftime separated by six points or fewer.
Oh and the coaches really like one another.
Prior to 2013-14, the Dutchmen held a 14-7 lead in the season series. The teams faced each other just once per season from 2005-06 through 2008-09. Only four of the first 21 games between the Dutchmen and Tribe were decided by six points or fewer or in overtime, including, of course, The Wolf’s game on Feb. 15, 2011.
THINGS YOU CAN SHOUT ON TWITTER IF CALLS GO DO NOT GO HOFSTRA’S WAY
Daniel Dixon can’t hurt us anymore bias! (An oldie but goodie)
The Wolf did it first bias! (An even older oldie but goodie)
Jimmye Laycock bias! (The legendary William & Mary football coach just retired)
Your head coach hates our head coach bias! (Duh)
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