I'll Be Quirky: Charleston at Hofstra

I love these real home finales. They're so relaxing. Not like that fake one Saturday that almost got me fired.

The Flying Dutchmen bounced back from Thursday’s lopsided loss to Elon with a businesslike performance against William & Mary on Saturday afternoon, when Omar Silverio and Jalen Ray had senior moments and Aaron Estrada joined some select company in an 83-67 win. The win locked the Dutchmen into the no. 3 seed in the CAA Tournament and a quarterfinal game against no. 6 Charleston…but not before the Dutchmen and Cougars tune up by playing each other in the regular season finale tonight in the makeup of a game originally scheduled for Jan. 5. Here’s a look back at the win over the Tribe and a look ahead to the Cougars.

THE MOST RECENT GAME SUMMARIZED IN ONE PARAGRAPH

William & Mary held a handful of early leads before Silverio and Ray teamed up to ensure the Dutchmen wouldn’t absorb a second straight disappointing defeat. Silverio and Ray scored the first 11 points in a 13-2 run that gave the Dutchmen their first double-digit lead at 25-15. The Tribe got within six points three times before Silverio ended the half on his own 6-2 run to extend the Dutchmen’s lead to 41-31. Ray and another senior, Zach Cooks, accounted for all the points as the Dutchmen opened the second half on a 9-0 run, a span in which William & Mary went 0-for-5 with four turnovers. The Dutchmen led by 22 points three different times before the Tribe got as close as 12 and made things interesting for the FEPO segment of the population. Silverio drained five 3-pointers and scored all 20 of his points in the first half while Ray finished with 19 points and three steals. Estrada posted a double-double (11 points, 10 rebounds) and added five steals. Darlinstone Dubar, coming off the bench for the first time as Cooks and Jarrod Simmons got starts on Senior Day, had 12 points. Kvonn Cramer had eight points, three blocks and two steals in 10 energetic minutes.

3 STARS OF THE GAME (vs. William & Mary, 2/26)

3: Jalen Ray

2: Omar Silverio

1: Aaron Estrada

SEASON STANDINGS

Aaron Estrada 60

Jalen Ray 32

Darlinstone Dubar 30

Zach Cooks 21

Omar Silverio 15

Abayomi Iyiola 13

Caleb Burgess 4

Kvonn Cramer 4

Jarrod Simmons 1

WAS THIS A UNICORN SCORE?

No! But it took quite the deep dive into the media guide to find the most recent 83-67 win, which happened against the United States Marine Merchant Academy way back during the 1956-57 season. My parents were still in elementary school! 

The Dutchmen have 10 unicorn score victories this season after recording no unicorn scores last season, 13 unicorn score victories in 2019-20 and 10 unicorn score victories in 2018-19. 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. 

THE FLYING DUTCHMEN AFTER THIRTY GAMES

With Saturday’s win, the Dutchmen improved to 20-10, which is tied for the 12th-best record through 30 games in program history. It’s the third time the Dutchmen have opened 20-10 and the first time since 2010-11. Here is how some notable Hofstra teams have fared through 30 games.

NCAA DIVISION I TOURNAMENT TEAMS

1975-76: 18-12 (season ended with an 80-78 loss to Connecticut in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, which left me as the most disappointed two-year-old toddler in the Nutmeg State, first NCAA Tournament as a D-I program, only 18-12 start in program history) 

1976-77: 23-7 (season ended with a 90-83 loss to Notre Dame in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, most recent 23-7 start)

1999-2000: 24-6 (America East champs! Win in 30th game was a 76-69 victory over Delaware at Hofstra Arena that clinched the Dutchmen’s first NCAA Tournament berth since *checks notes* 1977)

2000-01: 26-4 (America East champs again! Win in 30th game was a 68-54 victory over Delaware at Hofstra Arena that marked the final win in program-record, single-season 18-game winning streak and sent the Dutchmen to the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year, only 26-4 start in school history)

2019-20 (IT COUNTS TO US): 22-8 (most recent 22-8 start, loss in 30th game snapped an eight-game winning streak and was the final loss of the season)

NIT TEAMS

1998-99: 22-8 (win over Vermont in America East quarterfinals was final win of season)

2004-05: 21-9 (season ended with 53-44 loss to Saint Joseph’s, only 21-9 start in school history)

2005-06: 24-6 (loss in 30th game came against UNC Wilmington in CAA championship game, but don’t worry, the Dutchmen will definitely get an at-large bid six days from now)

2006-07: 22-8 (won regular season finale, final win of season)

2015-16: 22-8 (won regular season finale to clinch no. 1 seed in the CAA Tournament)

2018-19: 24-6 (most recent 24-6 start, win in 30th game clinched tie for the CAA regular season title)

NCAA DIVISION II TOURNAMENT TEAMS

1962-63: 23-7 (season ended with 78-71 win over Mount St. Mary’s in an NCAA Tournament game)

Hofstra’s three other Division II tournament teams — the 1958-59, 1961-62 and 1963-64 squads — all completed their seasons in fewer than 30 games.

Some other notable 30-game records — in fact, all of them!

2017-18: 19-11 (most recent 19-11 start, won regular season finale for final win of season)

2016-17: 14-16 (only 14-16 start)

2014-15: 19-11

2013-14: 8-22 (only 8-22 start, Joe Mihalich’s first team)

2012-13: 7-23 (only 7-23 start, worst 30-game record in school history)

2011-12: 9-21 (only 9-21 start)

2010-11: 20-10 (won regular season finale)

2009-10: 17-13 (most recent 17-13 start, win in 30th game marked fifth win of seven-game winning streak)

2008-09: 20-10 (won regular season finale)

2007-08: 12-18 (season ended with 81-66 loss to Towson in a CAA Tournament outbracket game, only 12-18 start)

2001-02: 11-19 (only 11-19 start, 72-52 win over Towson in CAA Tournament first-round game ended Tom Pecora-era record-tying eight-game losing streak)

1997-98: 19-11 (win over Hartford in America East quarterfinal was final win of season)

1985-86: 17-13 (season ended with 80-76 loss to Drexel in ECC championship game)

Hofstra has never been 30-0, 29-1, 28-2, 27-3, 25-5, 16-14, 15-15, 13-17, 10-20, 6-24, 5-25, 4-26, 3-27, 2-28, 1-29 or 0-30 through 30 games.

Sixty seasons were completed in fewer than 30 games:

1936-37 (7-10)

1937-38 (10-4)

1938-39 (10-8)

1939-40 (12-9)

1940-41 (13-7)

1941-42 (15-6)

1942-43 (15-6)

1943-44 (7-12)

1944-45 (8-13)

1945-46 (12-7)

1946-47 (18-6)

1947-48 (13-6)

1948-49 (18-8)

1949-50 (17-9)

1950-51 (18-11)

1951-52 (26-3)

1952-53 (20-7)

1953-54 (15-9)

1954-55 (19-7)

1955-56 (22-4)

1956-57 (11-15)

1957-58 (15-8)

1958-59 (20-7)

1959-60 (23-1)

1960-61 (21-4)

1961-62 (24-4)

1963-64 (23-6)

1964-65 (11-14)

1965-66 (16-10)

1966-67 (12-13)

1967-68 (13-12)

1968-69 (12-13)

1969-70 (13-13)

1970-71 (18-8)

1971-72 (11-14)

1972-73 (8-16)

1973-74 (8-16)

1974-75 (11-13)

1977-78 (8-19)

1978-79 (8-19)

1979-80 (14-14)

1980-81 (12-15)

1981-82 (12-16)

1982-83 (18-9)

1983-84 (14-14)

1984-85 (14-15)

1986-87 (10-18)

1987-88 (6-21)

1988-89 (14-15)

1989-90 (13-15)

1990-91 (14-14)

1991-92 (20-9)

1992-93 (9-18)

1993-94 (9-20)

1994-95 (10-18)

1995-96 (9-18)

1996-97 (12-15)

2002-03 (8-21)

2003-04 (14-15)

2020-21 (13-10)

(Well) more than half the previous Hofstra seasons were completed by this point.

Full records not available for the following seasons: 1936-37, 1941-42, 1942-43, 1945-46, 1948-49, 1949-50, 1951-52, 1954-55, 1957-58.

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 THIRTY

With Saturday's win, Speedy Claxton improved to 20-10 as head coach. He is the second coach to open 20-10 at Hofstra, following in the footsteps of Mo Cassara in 2010-11, and the third Hofstra coach to post a winning record through 30 games in his first season (or the first season of a second stint). Paul Lynner opened 27-6 in 1962-63. Only two other first-year coaches presided over seasons of at least 30 games, and Tom Pecora (11-19 in 2001-02) and Joe Mihalich (8-22 in 2013-14) were both under .500 by this point.

The debut seasons (or first season of a second stint) ended in fewer than 30 games for 11 coaches, with Jack McDonald posting an 18-6 record in the first and only second of his second stint in 1946-47, Frank Reilly leading the Dutchmen to a 13-6 record in 1947-48 and Butch van Breda Kolff going 22-4 in the first season of his first stint in 1955-56. Joe Harrington finished 14-14 in his lone season at the helm in 1979-80 and Mike Farrelly directed the Dutchmen to a 13-10 record in his lone season last year.

TWENTY'S THE MAGIC NUMBER…

…for starting pitchers (well, back when wins mattered) and college basketball programs. The win Saturday assured the Dutchmen of the 24th 20-win season in program history, including the 15th in the Division I era (dating back to 1966-67) and the 10th since joining the CAA in 2001-02. No other current CAA school has as many 20-win seasons as a member of the CAA and only Charleston (11 20-win seasons, including eight as a member of the Southern Conference) has more 20-win seasons since 2001-02. And among former CAA members, only VCU (15 20-win seasons) and Old Dominion (11 20-win seasons) have more 20-win seasons since 2001-02. Pretty good.

SENIOR DAY SUCCESS

The home finale isn’t until tonight, but we’re considering Saturday Senior Day because, well, Hofstra held Senior Day on Saturday (justifiably so, as a Saturday afternoon makes for a much more festive occasion and opportunity for players to invite family members and friends). With the win, the Dutchmen improved to 21-4 on Senior Day in the DD era, including 16-3 in the CAA era. This comes with a bit of an asterisk, as the Dutchmen fell to Towson, 61-60, in the home finale in 2002, when they had no seniors. Thus no Senior Day.

SPEEDY ON SENIOR DAY

Speedy Claxton has now been a part of Senior Day as a player, assistant coach and head coach. The Dutchmen are 10-2 on Senior Day when Claxton is in uniform or on the sidelines, with wins in each of his four seasons as a player (1997-2000) before the Dutchmen went 5-2 on Senior Day when Claxton was an assistant to Joe Mihalich.

SENIOR MOMENTS

Seniors Omar Silverio (12 points), Jalen Ray (eight points) and Jarrod Simmons (two points) combined to score the Dutchmen's first 23 points Saturday before Darlinstone Dubar hit a layup with 10:56 left. The 23 straight points by seniors to open Senior Day were the most since at least the 2006-07 season, which is as far back as I can track play-by-plays in Hofstra’s online archives. Seniors Justin Wright-Foreman (eight points), Jacquil Taylor (seven points) and Kenny Wormley (four points) combined to score the first 19 points on Senior Day against James Madison on Feb. 23, 2019. Ironically, in that it’s coincidence, the first non-senior to score in each of the previous two Senior Days was Jalen Ray, whom some believe has been a senior since the day he got here in the fall of 2017.

STREAKY SILVERIO

Omar Silverio scored all 20 of his points in the first half Saturday. He’s the first Hofstra player to score at least 20 points — all in the first half — since Tareq Coburn scored all 21 of his points in the first half of a 102-61 win over Elon on Feb. 7, 2019.

ESTRADA JOINS SPEEDY IN THE 10/5/5 CLUB

The final seconds of Saturday’s game were awfully interesting for a contest decided by 16 points! Aaron Estrada’s rebound of Connor Kochera’s putback attempt with two seconds left gave him 10 rebounds, a double-double and a stat line no one’s posted for the Dutchmen since the guy presently coaching Estrada. Estrada, who had 11 points and five steals, is the first Hofstra player to finish with at least 10 points, 10 rebounds and five steals since Speedy Claxton had 29 points, 10 rebounds and five steals against Northeastern on Jan. 4, 2000. That was 716 games ago and the second game played at Hofstra Arena!

(The other interesting things: Kochera’s miss, as well as the preceding errant 3-pointer by Tyler Rice, ensured a non-unicorn score win for Hofstra and made the game a push for those who follow such things, for entertainment purposes only of course)

ESTRADA IS MR. EVERYTHING

Updating another great Estrada-Claxton connection stat, this one from Hofstra SID Stephen Gorchov: Estrada is averaging 18.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game. No Hofstra player has averaged at least 18 points, five rebounds and five assists in a season since Claxton averaged 22.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 6.0 assists during the 1999-2000 season.

AARON BUCKETS

Updating a great stat from Hofstra in-game host and occasional play-by-play man Dan Savarino: Aaron Estrada has scored more points in CAA play alone — 372 points in 17 league games — than he did in his entire CAREER entering this season (255 points at Saint Peter’s and Oregon). In addition, he has at least 20 points in 12 CAA games and in 15 games overall after posting just one 20-point game at Saint Peter’s and Oregon. 

HE’S MR. MIDRANGE AGAIN?

Estrada did most of his damage from inside the 3-point arc for the third straight game Saturday when he was 4-of-7 on his 2-point attempts and 1-of-5 from 3-point land. Estrada is 4-of-24 from 3-point land in his last four games, which followed a four-game stretch in which he was 18-of-30 from beyond the arc.

CRAMER’S CONTRIBUTIONS

Kvonn Cramer, whose playing time has been reduced this season due to injury and the 1-2 punch of Abayomi Iyiola and Jarrod Simmons at center, provided 10 impressive minutes off the bench Saturday, when he scored eight points while going 3-of-3 from the field and 2-of-2 from the free throw line. Cramer also added three blocks and two steals in becoming the first Hofstra player to collect at least eight points, three blocks and two steals since…Cramer had 17 points, three blocks and two steals against UNC Wilmington on Jan. 31, 2021. The three blocks also tied a single-high for a Hofstra player. Darlinstone Dubar had three blocks against Richmond on Nov. 22 and against Charleston on Jan. 27.

THIS RUN OF PERFECTION GOES TO ELEVEN

Cramer’s perfect shooting afternoon marked the 11th time this season a Hofstra player has been perfect from the field (minimum three attempts). Cramer also achieved the feat by going 4-for-4 against Princeton on Dec. 1, and 3-for3 against Towson on Jan. 11. Only Abayomi Iyiola (five) has more perfect shooting games. Jarrod Simmons has two and Darlinstone Dubar has one.

DUBAR DOWN LOW

Speaking of Darlinstone Dubar, he was 4-of-4 from inside the arc Saturday. It’s the sixth time this season he’s been perfect on his 2-point attempts (minimum three attempts) and the first time since he hit all three of his 2-point attempts against James Madison on Feb. 5.

SENIOR DAY START

Graduate student Jarrod Simmons drew his first start for the Dutchmen Saturday, when he scored three points, pulled down four rebounds and had two assists in 23 minutes. He’s the eighth player in the DD era (1993-present) to make his first start for Hofstra on Senior Day, following in the footsteps of Tom Marich (1998), Mike Feeley (2001), Jeff Fox (2001), Ryan Johnson (2008), Matt Grogan (2013), Dan Dwyer (2019) and Connor Klementowicz (2020). Caveat: In the 13 games since he returned from a knee injury, Simmons has played more minutes than Abayomi Iyiola six times and the same number of minutes twice, so there may be more starts in his future. Speaking of that time share…

ALMOST IDLE IYIOLA

…Abayomi Iyiola had one point, two rebounds and two assists in just six minutes Saturday, his second-fewest of the season behind only a four-minute appearance off the bench against Princeton on Dec. 1, when Iyiola was coming back from a four-game absence.

OVER THE AIR

If tonight’s game is played, it will be carried live on FloHoops.com (subscription required). Hofstra will provide a radio feed as well as live stats at the Pride Productions hub.

SCOUTING CHARLESTON

The Cougars, under first-year head coach Pat Kelsey, are 16-13 overall and 8-9 in the CAA after a stunning 80-79 loss to Drexel on Saturday. Charleston never trailed until Amari Williams’ dunk with under two seconds left. Now THAT’S a quirky stat!

The Dutchmen and Cougars had no common foes in non-league play. In the CAA, both teams swept Northeastern and were swept by Towson. Hofstra swept James Madison, which swept Charleston, as well as Delaware and Drexel, both of whom split with the Cougars. The Dutchmen split with UNC Wilmington, which swept Charleston, as well as with Elon and William & Mary, each of whom the Cougars swept.

The Dutchmen, who were picked to finish fifth in the CAA preseason poll, are ranked 119th at KenPom.com. The Cougars, who were picked to finish seventh, are ranked 159th.

According to KenPom.com. the Dutchmen rank fourth in the CAA in conference-only offensive efficiency (108.5) and second in defensive efficiency (102.6). The Cougars rank sixth in conference-only offensive efficiency (105.6) and fourth in defensive efficiency (103.3). Notably, Charleston ranks second in the entire country in adjusted tempo (74.0 possessions per 40 minutes), behind only St. John’s. Something something Tareq Coburn.

Graduate student forward John Meeks, a transfer from Bucknell, leads the Cougars with 13.9 points per game and ranks third in rebounding at 4.7 rebounds per game. He scored 16 points off the bench Saturday after missing two of the previous four games — and playing a total of just 11 minutes in the other two games — due to injury. Freshman guard Reyne Smith, a native of Australia who won five CAA Rookie of the Week awards, is averaging 12.2 points per game. Graduate student forward Dimitrius Underwood, a transfer from Division III Texas-Dallas who shared CAA Player of the Week honors last week with Amari Williams, is averaging 11.6 points and a team-high 6.9 rebounds per game. Junior guard Brendan Tucker is averaging 11.0 points per game. Graduate student forward Osinachi Smart ranks second in rebounding at 4.8 rebounds per game.

KenPom.com predicts an 83-77 win for the Dutchmen. Per the wise guys in Vegas, for entertainment purposes only, the Dutchmen are 5-point favorites. The Dutchmen are 12-14-2 against the spread this season.

SNEAK PEEK

Hofstra’s win on Saturday and Charleston’s last-second loss locked the Dutchmen and Cougars into the no. 3 and no. 6 seeds, respectively, in the CAA Tournament and set up a quarterfinal matchup scheduled for Sunday night at 8:30 PM. If this were like the NFL or Major League Baseball (remember Major League Baseball?), Speedy Claxton and Pat Kelsey would pull their starters after two minutes. I actually wouldn't be surprised to see a bit more of Kvonn Cramer and Jaquan Carlos tonight.

GOT USED TO HOME COOKING

Tonight is the final game of a four-game homestand for the Dutchmen. It comes with an asterisk — the Dutchmen were slated to end the regular season with a three-game homestand before this makeup was tacked on — but this is the longest conference homestand for Hofstra in the CAA era and the longest anywhere since a four-game homestand against America East foes New Hampshire, Maine, Northeastern and Boston University from Jan. 19-28, 2001.

ALL-TIME VS. COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON

Hofstra is 8-7 against Charleston in a series that began with the Cougars joining the CAA prior to the 2013-14 season. The Dutchmen are looking for their first regular season sweep of Charleston since 2018-19 after edging the Cougars, 76-73, on Jan. 27. Seven of the last nine games between the teams have been decided by six points or fewer. Charleston was the only team Hofstra didn’t face during the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season.

THINGS YOU CAN SHOUT ON TWITTER IF CALLS GO DO NOT GO HOFSTRA’S WAY

Pat Kelsey sounds like Hank Scorpio bias! (Have you ever seen a guy say goodbye to a shoe, @kingkreese?)

Reyne Smith got tricked into accepting a $900 collect call bias! (Any team yielding multiple Simpsons references is OK by me)

Heath Hembree recorded the last out for the Mets at Citi Field last season by snaring a comebacker bias! (A twist on a familiar Charleston bias topic)

That's OK we’ll take these calls to get the ones next week bias! (Self-explanatory)

I'll Be Quirky: William & Mary at Hofstra

That's Donna Dixon in Doctor Detroit, not Defiantly Dutch nemesis Daniel Dixon, who was negative-11 years old when Doctor Detroit was released. Who doesn't love alliteration?

As it turns out, taking it is not as much fun as giving it out. Elon got its revenge on the Flying Dutchmen Thursday night, when the Phoenix rose (get it?) from a 33-point rout nine days earlier and returned the favor with an 81-55 win that trust us was not nearly as close as the final score indicated. With their hopes of winning the CAA’s regular season crown or the no. 2 seed fully evaporated, the Dutchmen will look to clinch third place today, when they are slated to host William & Mary, which is coming off its own historic defeat. Here’s a look back at the loss to the Phoenix and a look ahead to the Tribe. Hey! Singular nicknames!

THE MOST RECENT GAME SUMMARIZED IN ONE PARAGRAPH

This won’t be as enjoyable as the previous recap! Recent history looked like it might be repeating itself when Omar Silverio scored five points in a 25-second sequence to give the Dutchmen a 15-14 lead just before the midway point of the first half, but Elon scored the next five points and never trailed again. Silverio sandwiched another five points around a pair of free throws by Andrew Junkin to pull the Dutchmen within 23-22, but Elon finished the half on a 20-9 run and wow did it get worse from there. The Phoenix opened the second half on a 13-0 run as the Dutchmen went the first eight minutes without a point. And it could have been worse: Elon didn’t score for the first 2:49. The Phoenix led by as many as 31 before the Dutchmen ended the game on a 7-2 run. So we've got that going for us! Silverio and Darlinstone Dubar shared the team lead with 10 points, and Dubar didn't get there until sinking a 3-pointer for the Dutchmen’s final points with 57 seconds left. Caleb Burgess had four points and five assists and had a hand in all of the Dutchmen’s first 10 points. Aaron Estrada’s streak of double-digit scoring efforts as he finished with nine points, six rebounds and four assists. Estrada was just 4-of-17 from the field, including 0-for-6 from 3-point land. Jalen Ray (six points on 2-of-8 shooting) and Zach Cooks (three points on 1-of-7 shooting) also struggled. Not going to win a lot of games when Estrada, Ray and Cooks are a combined 7-of-32.

3 STARS OF THE GAME (vs. Elon, 2/24)

3: Caleb Burgess

2: Omar Silverio

1: Aaron Estrada

SEASON STANDINGS

Aaron Estrada 59

Darlinstone Dubar 30

Jalen Ray 29

Zach Cooks 21

Omar Silverio 13

Abayomi Iyiola 13

Caleb Burgess 4

Kvonn Cramer 4

Jarrod Simmons 1

The first 3-star honor for Burgess, who was really good when this was a game.

THE FLYING DUTCHMEN AFTER TWENTY-NINE GAMES

With Thursday’s loss, the Dutchmen fell to 19-10, which is tied for the 15th-best record through 29 games in program history. Bright side: That’s the same spot the Dutchmen were through 28 games! It’s the third time the Dutchmen have opened 19-10 and the first time since 2010-11. Here is how some notable Hofstra teams have fared through 29 games.

NCAA DIVISION I TOURNAMENT TEAMS

1975-76: 18-11 (win in 29th game came in ECC Tournament championship game, marked sixth win of six-game winning streak and sent the Dutchmen to the NCAAs for the first time as a D-I program)

1976-77: 22-7 (win in 29th game came in ECC Tournament championship game, marked ninth win of nine-game winning streak and sent to the Dutchmen to the NCAs for the second straight season)

1999-2000: 23-6 (win in 29th game came in America East tournament semifinals) 

2000-01: 25-4 (win in 29th game came in America East tournament semifinals and marked 17th win in program-record, single-season 18-game winning streak, only 25-4 start in school history)

2019-20 (IT COUNTS TO US): 22-7 (most recent 22-7 start, win in 29th game clinched tie for the CAA regular season title and was eighth win of eight-game winning streak)

NIT TEAMS

1998-99: 21-8 (win in 29th game came in America East quarterfinals, was final win of season)

2004-05: 21-8 (loss in 29th game came in CAA semifinals)

2005-06: 24-5 (win in 29th game came in the CAA semifinals — THE TONY SKINN GAME — and locked up at least an at-large bid for the Dutchmen, or so we thought THANKS TOC, only 24-5 start in school history)

2006-07: 21-8

2015-16: 21-8 (most recent 21-8 start)

2018-19: 23-6 (most recent 23-6 start, loss in 29th game came in home finale to James Madison, final regular season loss)

NCAA DIVISION II TOURNAMENT TEAMS

1958-59: 20-7 (season ended with third-round loss in NCAAs)

1961-62: 24-4 (season ended with second-round loss in NCAAs) 

1962-63: 23-6 (loss in first round of NCAAs was final loss of season)

1963-64: 23-6 (season ended with first-round loss in NCAAs)

Some other notable 29-game records:

2017-18: 18-11 (most recent 18-11 start)

2016-17: 13-16 (only 13-16 start)

2013-14: 8-21 (most recent 8-21 start, Joe Mihalich’s first team)

2012-13: 7-22 (only 7-22 start, win in 29th game was final win for Mo Cassara, worst 29-game record in school history)

2011-12: 9-20 (most recent 9-20 start)

2009-10: 16-13 (only 16-13 start, win in 29th game marked fourth win of seven-game winning streak)

2007-08: 12-17 (only 12-17 start, win in 29th game was final win of season)

2003-04: 14-15 (most recent 14-15 start, season ended w/loss to Old Dominion in CAA quarterfinals)

2002-03: 8-21 (season ended w/loss to UNC Wilmington in CAA quarterfinals)

2001-02: 10-19 (only 10-19 start, loss in 29th game ended regular season and marked eighth loss of Tom Pecora-era record-tying eight-game losing streak)

1997-98: 18-11 (won regular season finale)

1993-94: 9-20 (ECC champs! Beat Northeastern Illinois in 2 OTs to win ECC title in VBK’s final game)

1991-92: 20-9 (season ended w/loss to Towson State in ECC championship and ended nine-game winning streak, only 20-9 start)

1988-89: 14-15 (season ended w/loss in ECC semifinals)

1985-86: 17-12 (only 17-12 start, win in ECC semifinals was final win of season)

1984-85: 14-15 (season ended w/loss in ECC semifinals)

1951-52: 26-3 (won known season finale, best 29-game record in school history)

1950-51: 18-11 (lost season finale)

Hofstra has never been 29-0, 28-1, 27-2, 15-14, 11-18, 6-23, 5-24, 4-25, 3-26, 2-27, 1-28 or 0-29 through 29 games.

Fifty-one seasons were completed in fewer than 29 games:

1936-37 (10-7)

1937-38 (10-4)

1938-39 (10-8)

1939-40 (12-9)

1940-41 (13-7)

1941-42 (15-6)

1942-43 (15-6)

1943-44 (7-12)

1944-45 (8-13)

1945-46 (12-7)

1946-47 (18-6)

1947-48 (13-6)

1948-49 (18-8)

1949-50 (17-9)

1952-53 (20-7)

1953-54 (15-9)

1954-55 (19-7)

1955-56 (22-4)

1956-57 (11-15)

1957-58 (15-8)

1958-59 (20-7)

1959-60 (23-1)

1960-61 (21-4)

1961-62 (14-14)

1964-65 (11-14)

1965-66 (16-10)

1966-67 (12-13)

1967-68 (13-12)

1968-69 (12-13)

1969-70 (13-13)

1970-71 (18-8)

1971-72 (11-14)

1972-73 (8-16)

1973-74 (8-16)

1974-75 (11-13)

1977-78 (8-19)

1978-79 (8-19)

1979-80 (14-14)

1980-81 (12-15)

1981-82 (12-16)

1982-83 (18-9)

1983-84 (14-14)

1986-87 (10-18)

1987-88 (6-21)

1989-90 (13-15)

1990-91 (14-14)

1992-93 (9-18)

1994-95 (10-18)

1995-96 (9-18)

1996-97 (12-15)

2020-21 (13-10)

More than half the previous Hofstra seasons were completed by this point.

Full records not available for the following seasons: 1936-37, 1941-42, 1942-43, 1945-46, 1948-49, 1949-50, 1951-52, 1954-55, 1957-58.

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 TWENTY-NINE

With Thursday’s loss, Speedy Claxton fell to 19-10 as head coach. He is the second coach to open 19-10 at Hofstra, following in the footsteps of Mo Cassara in 2010-11, and the third Hofstra coach to post a winning record through 29 games in his first season (or the first season of a second stint). Paul Lynner opened 23-6 in 1962-63. Only three other first-year coaches presided over seasons of at least 29 games, and Butch van Breda Kolff (14-15 in the first season of his second stint in 1988-89), Tom Pecora (10-19 in 2001-02) and Joe Mihalich (8-21 in 2013-14) were all under .500 by this point.

The debut seasons (or first season of a second stint) ended in fewer than 29 games for eight coaches, with Jack McDonald posting an 18-6 record in the first and only second of his second stint in 1946-47, Frank Reilly leading the Dutchmen to a 13-6 record in 1947-48 and Butch van Breda Kolff going 22-4 in the first season of his first stint in 1955-56. Joe Harrington finished 14-14 in his lone season at the helm in 1979-80 and Mike Farrelly directed the Dutchmen to a 13-10 record in his lone season last year.

PAINFUL PAYBACK

The Dutchmen lost to Elon by 26 points just nine days after beating the Phoenix by 33 points. It’s the first time in CAA history — dating all the way back to 1982-83 — that two teams have split the season series with each team winning once by at least 25 points. It’s also, not surprisingly, the first time in Hofstra history the Dutchmen have split a season series with an opponent in which each team won by at least 25 points. Hey, we acknowledge all sorts of history here, positive and negative.

THEY CAN'T WIN WITH 55

The Dutchmen’s 55 points Thursday night were their fewest since Dec. 7, 2019, when St. Bonaventure cruised to a 73-45 win.

LOPSIDED LEAGUE LOSS

The 26-point margin of defeat Thursday was the largest for the Dutchmen in a CAA game — or otherwise, for that matter — since an 88-61 loss to William & Mary on Jan. 2, 2020.

SOUR SECOND HALF START

The Dutchmen opened the second half by going scoreless for exactly eight minutes — a span in which they went 0-for-10 with two turnovers — before Jarrod Simmons converted a nostalgic 3-point play. If it’s not the longest scoreless drought to open a half in memory, well, it doesn't take long to call the roll. Even that disastrous game against Tulane on Dec. 22, 2012 — in which the Dutchmen were tied at the half the Green Wave before the latter went on a 20-0 run out of the locker room — only “featured” a half-opening scoreless drought of barely four minutes.

SOUR SECOND HALF FINISH

The Dutchmen scored just 24 points in the second half, which tied a season low for a half set Nov. 22 against Richmond, when the Dutchmen scored 24 second-half points in an 81-68 loss. The Dutchmen haven’t scored fewer than 24 points in a half since a 22-point second-half against Northeastern in an 81-78 overtime loss on Jan 7, 2021.

IMPERFECT TEN

Omar Silverio and Darlinstone Dubar shared the team lead with 10 points Thursday. It marked the first time since Jan. 31, 2013 — when David Imes led the way with 10 points in a 61-43 loss to James Madison — that the Dutchmen’s leading scorer had just 10 points. That’s a span of 295 games!

NO LONGER STREAKING

Aaron Estrada’s streak of consecutive double-digit scoring efforts ended at 15 games Thursday, when he finished with nine points. Estrada’s streak was the longest of the season by a Hofstra player and the longest by a Dutchman since Desure Buie scored in double figures in 22 consecutive games from Nov. 21, 2019 through Feb. 13, 2020. The new active leader in consecutive double-digit scoring performances is Darlinstone Dubar, who has scored at least 10 points in four straight games.

HE’S MR. MIDRANGE AGAIN?

Estrada scuffled again from outside Thursday, when he missed all six of his 3-point attempts. It was the most 3-point attempts without a make for Estrada in his career and the most 3-point attempts without a make for a Hofstra player since Omar Silverio went 0-for-7 against Stony Brook on Dec. 8. Estrada is 3-of-19 from 3-point land in his last three games, which followed a four-game stretch in which he was 18-of-30 from beyond the arc.

HIGH CALEB-AR START

Well, it wasn’t ALL bad for the Dutchmen on Thursday. Caleb Burgess had an impressive start by contributing to each of the Dutchmen’s first 10 points via four assists and a jumper. That’s the most consecutive points Burgess has contributed to at the start of a game, exceeding the eight points he had a hand in creating against UNC Wilmington on Jan. 31, 2021, when he had six points and an assist.

OMAR’S BAKER’S DOZEN

Omar Silverio’s two 3-pointers gave him 13 this season against Elon, which is the most 3-pointers a Hofstra player has ever made against an opponent in the regular season. In fact, as far as I can tell, Silverio’s 11 3-pointers last Tuesday are more 3-pointers than any Hofstra player's ever made against an opponent in the regular season. This research isn’t entirely complete — it's possible someone hit six 3-point field goals twice against an opponent — but none of the players with seven or more 3-pointers in a game have more than 10 regular season 3-pointers against an opponent. The late great Zeke Upshaw hit 10 3-pointers against William & Mary during the 2013-14 season while Justin Wright-Foreman had 10 3-pointers against William & Mary during the 2016-17 season and Desure Buie had 10 3-pointers against Elon during the 2019-20 season. Upshaw finished with 14 3-pointers against UNC Wilmington in 2013-14, but that total includes a third game played in the conference tournament.

MR. 300

Jalen Ray hit another milestone Thursday, when he recorded his 300th career 3-pointer by sinking a trey with 9:53 left. Ray, who added one more 3-pointer and now has (carries the one, drops the remainder) 301 career 3-pointers, is the second player in school history to hit at least 300 3-pointers. Antoine Agudio established perhaps the modern version of Bill Thieben's rebounding record by collecting 357 3-pointers in just four seasons from 2004 through 2008.

OVER THE AIR

If today's game is played, it will be carried live on FloHoops.com (subscription required). Hofstra will provide a radio feed as well as live stats at the Pride Productions hub.

SENIOR DAY

While the Dutchmen officially have one more home game scheduled — a makeup Monday night against Charleston — a terrific tradition thankfully returns today, when Hofstra will honor its four seniors in a pregame ceremony. Graduate students Zach Cooks, Jalen Ray and Jarrod Simmons will all be recognized along with Omar Silverio, who is an academic senior but could return with the extra year of eligibility granted to those who played during the pandemic season. Of course, there was no Senior Day last season, when the Dutchmen’s final two home games against Charleston were postponed due to, well, you know.

While Senior Day is a bittersweet afternoon for players and coaches, the game itself has traditionally been a happy occasion for the Flying Dutchmen. The Dutchmen are 22-5 in home finales in the DD Era with losses absorbed in 1994 (Army won 87-76), 2001 (Towson won 61-60), 2013 (Delaware won 57-56), 2017 (UNC Wilmington won 83-76) and 2019 (James Madison won 104-99 in overtime).

Joe Mihalich went 18-4 in regular season home finales as a head coach. His 10-game winning streak in home finales was snapped in 2017. The only other times a Mihalich-coached team lost a home finale were in 2001, when Niagara fell to Canisius, 85-70, and 2006, when the Purple Eagles lost to Manhattan, 82-81.

SCOUTING WILLIAM & MARY

The Tribe, under third-year head coach Dane Fischer, are 5-25 this season and 4-13 in CAA play following a 62-28 loss to Northeastern on Thursday. That score is not a misprint. Talk about two teams coming off a rough night. The loss locked the Tribe into ninth place and the eighth seed in the CAA Tournament and assured a rematch against 10th-place and ninth-seeded Northeastern a week from today.

The Dutchmen and Tribe had no common opponents in non-league play.

In CAA play, both teams have split with Elon and been swept by Towson. The Dutchmen swept Northeastern and Drexel, each of whom split with William & Mary, as well as James Madison and Delaware, both of whom swept the Tribe. The Dutchmen have beaten Charleston and split with UNC Wilmington, both of whom also swept William & Mary.

The Dutchmen, who were picked to finish fifth in the CAA preseason poll, are ranked 119th at KenPom.com. The Tribe, which was picked to finish 10th, is ranked 341st.

According to KenPom.com. the Dutchmen rank fourth in the CAA in conference-only offensive efficiency (108.2) and fourth in defensive efficiency (103.3). The Tribe rank 10th in conference-only offensive efficiency (93.0) and eighth in defensive efficiency (106.6).

Sophomore forward Ben Wight leads the Tribe in both scoring (11.3 points per game) and rebounding (5.6 rebounds per game). Sophomore guard Connor Kochera, who was named to the preseason all-CAA second team, ranks second in scoring with 10.8 points per game and third in rebounding with 4.6 rebounds per game. Graduate student guard Brandon Carroll is third in scoring (8.4 points per game) and second in rebounding (4.7 rebounds per game).

KenPom.com predicts an 82-63 win for the Dutchmen. That’s a 96 percent win probability. Let’s hope it goes closer to form than Thursday! Per the wise guys in Vegas, for entertainment purposes only, the Dutchmen are 16-point favorites. The Dutchmen are 12-14-1 against the spread this season.

THE CAA RACE

Alas, things are pretty simple now after Thursday’s loss. The Dutchmen (11-5 CAA) can no longer finish first in the CAA but will lock up the third seed behind UNC Wilmington (14-3 CAA) and Towson (13-3 CAA) with one more win or one more Delaware loss. The Dutchmen will only fall to fourth if they lose their final two games while Delaware (10-6) beats UNC Wilmington today and Towson Monday in the completion of a game suspended Jan. 27 with 18:42 left and the Blue Hens ahead 38-29. The Dutchmen would win the tiebreaker with Delaware by virtue of a head-to-head sweep. 

ALL-TIME VS. WILLIAM & MARY

Hofstra is 25-15 against William & Mary in a series that began when the Dutchmen joined the CAA prior to the 2001-02 season. The Tribe are looking to complete the sweep after stunning the Dutchmen, 63-62, in the CAA opener for both teams on Dec. 29. The Dutchmen haven’t been swept by William & Mary since the 2014-15 season.

The Hofstra-William & Mary series has lately been one of the CAA’s most exciting and competitive rivalries. Twelve of the last 20 games between the teams have been decided by six points or fewer or in overtime, including back-to-back barnburners in the CAA Tournament in 2015 (shudders) and 2016.

THINGS YOU CAN SHOUT ON TWITTER IF CALLS GO DO NOT GO HOFSTRA’S WAY

Michael Jordan and Tony Shaver both went to North Carolina bias! (If you’re of a certain age, you recognize 63-62 as one of the most famous final scores in college basketball history)

I still can’t believe David Cohn’s 3-pointer in the final seconds of the 2016 semis missed bias! (I really can’t)

Donna Dixon and Daniel Dixon are both from Virginia bias! (Only one broke our hearts multiple times though, but that’s OK IT DOESN'T HURT ANYMORE)

Beasthoven bias! (That’s for Rob & Teej in honor of Tim Rusthoven)

I'll Be Quirky: Elon at Hofstra

I've got it right here in front of me. Hofstra and Elon are playing twice in nine days.

The Flying Dutchmen ended on a make on Joe Mihalich Day Saturday, when they undid 39 not-so-great minutes by mounting one of the greatest last-minute comebacks in program history to stun Northeastern, 76-73. The Dutchmen will look to do their part to maintain their slim hopes of winning the CAA’s regular season championship tonight, when they are slated to host Elon. Here’s a look back at the wild win over the Huskies and a look ahead to the Phoenix.

THE MOST RECENT GAME SUMMARIZED IN ONE PARAGRAPH

Zach Cooks’ jumper in the lane with eight seconds left gave the Dutchmen just their second lead of the second half and provided the biggest points in a game-ending 11-0 run. The Dutchmen trailed by 11 points three times in the second half and gave up points on seven of 11 Northeastern possessions over a nearly seven-minute span that ended with Jason Strong sinking a 3-pointer to put the Huskies up 73-65 with 1:31 left. But Cooks began the comeback by hitting a layup with 1:12 remaining before Northeastern committed a shot clock violation when Jahmyl Telfort didn’t hit the rim with a 3-pointer. Jalen Ray hit a 3-pointer on the other end to pull the Dutchmen within three, after which Cooks forced a turnover by Shaquille Walters, who briefly lost the ball to Cooks but regained it before slipping out of bounds. Aaron Estrada hit a layup out of a timeout and the Dutchmen committed three fouls in a span of 5.5 seconds, the last of which sent Chris Doherty — a 75.5 percent free throw shooter entering the day who was 6-of-7 from the line to that point Saturday— to the line for a one-and-one Doherty missed the free throw and Darlinstone Dubar pulled down the rebound to begin the sequence that ended with Cooks hitting a left-handed contested scoop layup. Northeastern didn't call timeout and Walters was stripped by Simmons as he tried driving for the layup. Estrada then sank two free throws with 0.8 seconds left and Walters didn’t get off a shot before time expired. That was fun! Estrada led the Dutchmen in FOUR categories (21 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and the team’s lone block). Dubar had 13 points, three rebounds and two steals. Cooks and Ray combined for 19 points in the second half — 10 for Cooks, nine for Ray — and finished with 12 points apiece. Simmons scored all nine of his points in the second half and had the nostalgic 3-point play that ave the Dutchmen their lone lead of the half prior to Cooks’ game-winner.

3 STARS OF THE GAME (vs. Northeastern 2/19)

3: Aaron Estrada

2: Zach Cooks

1: Jalen Ray

SEASON STANDINGS

Aaron Estrada 58

Darlinstone Dubar 30

Jalen Ray 29

Zach Cooks 21

Abayomi Iyiola 13

Omar Silverio 11

Kvonn Cramer 4

Jarrod Simmons 1

Caleb Burgess 1

WAS THIS A UNICORN SCORE?

No! It wasn’t even a unicorn score for this season! The Dutchmen also eked out a 76-73 win over Charleston on Jan. 27, which meant a mere seven games elapsed between 76-73 victories. But that’s not even the shortest time frame between same score wins in the same season since 2018-19, when we started tracking unicorn scores. The Dutchmen beat William & Mary 82-73 on Jan. 3, 2021 and played six more games before beating UNC Wilmington by the same score just 27 days later.

The Dutchmen have 10 unicorn score victories this season after recording no unicorn scores last season, 13 unicorn score victories in 2019-20 and 10 unicorn score victories in 2018-19. 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. 

THE FLYING DUTCHMEN AFTER TWENTY-EIGHT GAMES

With Tuesday’s win, the Dutchmen improved to 19-9, which is tied for the 15th-best record through 28 games in program history. It’s just the second time the Dutchmen have opened 19-9 and the first time since 2008-09. Here is how some notable Hofstra teams have fared through 28 games.

1975-76: 17-11 (win in 28th game came in ECC Tournament semifinal and marked fifth win of six-game winning streak that carried Dutchmen into the NCAAs)

1976-77: 22-6 (win in 28th game came in ECC Tournament semifinal and marked eighth win of nine-game winning streak that carried Dutchmen into the NCAAs)

1999-2000: 22-6 (win in 28th game came in America East tournament quarterfinals, most recent 22-6 start) 

2000-01: 24-4 (win in 28th game came in America East tournament quarterfinals and marked 16th win in program-record, single-season 18-game winning streak, tied for best 28-game record)

2019-20 (IT COUNTS TO US): 21-7 (most recent 21-7 start, win in 28th game was seventh win of eight-game winning streak)

NIT TEAMS

1998-99: 20-8

2004-05: 21-7 (win in 28th game came in CAA quarterfinals and was final win of the season)

2005-06: 23-5 (first 23-5 start, win in 28th game came in CAA quarterfinals)

2006-07: 20-8

2015-16: 20-8 (most recent 20-8 start)

2018-19: 23-5 (most recent 23-5 start)

NCAA DIVISION II TOURNAMENT TEAMS

1958-59: 20-7 (season ended with third-round loss in NCAAs)

1961-62: 24-4 (tied for best 28-game record, season ended with second-round loss in NCAAs, final game of VBK’s first stint) 

1962-63: 22-6 (win in Middle Atlantic Championships sent Hofstra to NCAAs was final win of 11-game winning streak)

1963-64: 23-5 (win in Middle Atlantic Championships sent Hofstra to NCAAs, final win of season)

Some other notable 28-game records:

2017-18: 17-11 (most recent 17-11 start)

2016-17: 13-15 (most recent 13-15 start)

2014-15: 18-10 (most recent 18-10 start)

2013-14: 8-20 (most recent 8-20 start, Joe Mihalich’s first team)

2012-13: 6-22 (only 6-22 start, worst 28-game record in school history)

2009-10: 15-13 (only 15-13 start)

2007-08: 11-17 (only 11-17 start, Antoine Agudio broke Steve Nisenson’s career scoring record in 28th game against Delaware)

2003-04: 14-14 (most recent 14-14 start, win in regular season finale was final win, last time at .500)

2002-03: 8-20 (win in CAA tournament quarterfinals was final win)

2001-02: 10-18 (most recent 10-18 start, loss in 28th game marked seventh loss of Tom Pecora-era record-tying eight-game losing streak)

1994-95: 10-18 (season ended w/loss to Drexel in NAC quarterfinals, Jay Wright’s first year)

1993-94: 8-20 (beat Troy State in ECC semifinals, VBK’s last year)

1991-92: 20-8 (won ECC semifinal for final win of season and final win of nine-game winning streak that ended in ECC title game)

1990-91: 14-14 (season ended w/loss in ECC quarterfinals)

1989-90: 13-15 (season ended w/loss in ECC quarterfinals)

1988-89: 14-14 (win in ECC quarterfinals was final win of season, last time at .500)

1986-87: 10-18 (season ended w/loss in ECC quarterfinals)

1985-86: 16-12 (only 16-12 start, won ECC quarterfinals)

1984-85: 14-14 (win in ECC quarterfinals was final win of season, last time at .500)

1983-84: 14-14 (season ended w/loss in ECC quarterfinals)

1981-82: 12-16 (only 12-16 start, season ended w/loss in ECC quarterfinals)

1979-80: 14-14 (lost season finale, final game for Joe Harrington)

1950-51: 18-10 (win in 28th game was final win of season and last win of six-game winning streak)

Hofstra has never been 28-0, 27-1, 26-2, 25-3, 9-19, 7-21, 5-23, 4-24, 3-25, 2-26, 1-27 or 0-28 through 28 games.

Forty-two seasons were completed in fewer than 28 games:

1936-37 (10-7)

1937-38 (10-4)

1938-39 (10-8)

1939-40 (12-9)

1940-41 (13-7)

1941-42 (15-6)

1942-43 (15-6)

1943-44 (7-12)

1944-45 (8-13)

1945-46 (12-7)

1947-48 (13-6)

1948-49 (18-8)

1949-50 (17-9)

1952-53 (20-7)

1953-54 (15-9)

1954-55 (19-7)

1955-56 (22-4)

1956-57 (11-15)

1957-58 (15-8)

1958-59 (20-7)

1959-60 (23-1)

1960-61 (21-4)

1964-65 (11-14)

1965-66 (16-10)

1966-67 (12-13)

1967-68 (13-12)

1968-69 (12-13)

1969-70 (13-13)

1970-71 (18-8)

1971-72 (11-14)

1972-73 (8-16)

1973-74 (8-16)

1974-75 (11-13)

1977-78 (8-19)

1978-79 (8-19)

1980-81 (12-15)

1982-83 (18-9)

1987-88 (6-21)

1992-93 (9-18)

1995-96 (9-18)

1996-97 (12-15)

2020-21 (13-10)

More than half the previous Hofstra seasons were completed by this point.

Full records not available for the following seasons: 1936-37, 1941-42, 1942-43, 1945-46, 1948-49, 1949-50, 1951-52, 1954-55, 1957-58.

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 TWENTY-EIGHT

With Saturday’s win, Speedy Claxton improved to 19-9 as head coach. He is the first coach to open 19-9 at Hofstra and the fifth to post a .500 or better record through 28 games in his first season (or the first season of a second stints). Paul Lynner opened 22-6 in 1962-63 while Joe Harrington started 14-14 in his lone season in 1979-80 and Butch van Breda Kolff began 14-14 in 1988-89, the first season of his second stint, before Mo Cassara opened 18-10 in 2010-11. The debut seasons (or first season of a second stint) ended in fewer than 27 games for eight coaches, with Jack McDonald posting an 18-6 record in the first and only second of his second stint in 1946-47, Frank Reilly leading the Dutchmen to a 13-6 record in 1947-48, Butch van Breda Kolff going 22-4 in the first season of his first stint in 1955-56 and Mike Farrelly directing the Dutchmen to a 13-10 record in his lone season last year.

THIS ONE GOES TO ELEVEN

Where to start with the Dutchmen’s stunning comeback? How about at the very end — with the game-ending 11-0 run, which was the Dutchmen’s longest to conclude a game since their 11-0 run to close out an 89-73 win over Rider on Dec. 8, 2018. Of course, in that game, the Dutchmen already led by *does the math* five points, and the run began with 2:46 left.

LAST-MINUTE COMEBACK

By any standard, the Dutchmen’s comeback Saturday was their most dramatic since Feb. 4, 2017, when the Dutchmen scored the last 12 points in a span of just 57 seconds to stun Drexel, 79-77. Per KenPom.com, the Dutchmen’s win probability in that game sunk to 0.8 percent when Drexel took its 77-67 lead with 1:15 remaining. Speaking of that…

WIN PROBABILITY, SCHWIN PROBABILITY

…the Dutchmen’s win probability on Saturday bottomed out at 5.1 percent when Jason Strong hit the 3-pointer to put Northeastern ahead 73-65 with 1:31 left. The last time the Dutchmen won a game in which their win probability sank lower was Dec. 22, 2020, when they beat Richmond 76-71 after their win probability was at 3.3 percent with the Spiders ahead 55-46 with 10:28 left.

DOUBLE-DIGIT COMEBACK

The win over Northeastern marked the second time this season the Dutchmen have overcome a double-digit deficit in a win and the first time since Dec. 4, when they trailed Bucknell by 10 points in the first half of an 88-69 victory. In addition, the 11-point comeback was the biggest by the Dutchmen since they overcame a 16-point first-half deficit in a 75-71 win over Northeastern on Feb. 8, 2020 as well as the biggest second-half deficit overcome in a victory since Dec. 30, 2019, when the Dutchmen trailed by 12 points in the second half of a 75-67 win over Towson.

ENDING ON A MAKE

Zach Cooks’ go-ahead basket with eight seconds left Saturday was the latest in a game the Dutchmen have scored the go-ahead points since…Jan. 9, 2020 against Northeastern, when Eli Pemberton hit a layup just before the buzzer to give the Dutchmen a 74-72 win. 

ANOTHER NORTHEASTERN NAIL-BITER

The instant classic Saturday marked the 20th time in 37 games since 2005-06 — when Northeastern joined the CAA — that a Hofstra-Northeastern game was decided by six points or fewer or in overtime. Six of the last 12 games between the schools have been decided by six points or fewer or in overtime, including the aforementioned wins during the 2019-20 regular season as well as a 75-72 win for the Dutchmen on Jan. 5, 2019 in which Justin Wright-Foreman hit a running 35-footer at the buzzer.

ESTRADA HITS FOR THE CYCLE

Aaron Estrada led the Dutchmen with 21 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and one block Saturday. It marked the first time a Hofstra player has led the team in four categories since Feb. 13, 2013, when Stevie Mejia had 18 points, 10 rebounds, two assists and two steals in a 61-43 loss to Georgia State. I don’t think people appreciate how good Mejia was during that otherwise forgettable season. Two players subsequently held at least a share of the team lead in four categories. Juan’ya Green led the Dutchmen with 26 points and was tied for the lead with five rebounds, four assists and one block in a 71-66 win over Charleston on Jan. 8, 2015 while Tareq Coburn had a team-high 15 points and nine rebounds while sharing the lead with two assists and one block in a 63-61 win over UNC Wilmington on Jan. 16, 2020.

SELECT COMPANY (part one)

Aaron Estrada had at least 21 points, seven rebounds and seven assists for the second time this season and the first time since Dec. 18, when he finished with 22 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists in the 89-81 upset of no. 24 Arkansas. Estrada is the first Hofstra player with at least two games in which he had 21 points, seven rebounds and seven assists since Charles Jenkins, who had three such games in his career. Jenkins had 32 points, seven rebounds and 13 assists against James Madison on Feb. 18, 2009 before recording 21 points, seven rebounds and seven assists against IUPUI on Mar. 17, 2010 (shudder) and 26 points, eight rebounds and eight assists against Farmingdale State on Nov. 13, 2010. That TECHNICALLY means Jenkins had back-to-back 21/7/7 games, since his second one came in the 2009-10 finale and his third one came in the 2010-11 opener.

SELECT COMPANY (part two, plus a correction)

Aaron Estrada has now led the Dutchmen in points, rebounds and assists twice this season. This leads to the correction of a stat I posted after Estrada won the Triple Crown by finishing with 19 points, nine rebounds and three assists in a 78-72 loss to UNC Wilmington on Jan. 29. I wrote that he was the first Dutchmen player to lead the team in all three categories since Charles Jenkins had 28 points, 10 rebounds and four assists in an 81-63 win over Iona on Feb. 23, 2008. Of course, Mejia not only joined that club on Feb. 13, 2013, he went one better by also leading the Dutchmen in steals. 

DOUBLE FIGURES FOR AARON

Aaron Estrada scored in double figures for the 15th straight game Tuesday, which is the longest streak of double-digit scoring performances by a Hofstra player this season and the longest by a Dutchman since Desure Buie scored in double figures in 22 consecutive games from Nov. 21, 2019 through Feb. 13, 2020.

HE’S MR. MIDRANGE AGAIN?

Estrada did most of his damage from inside the 3-point arc for the second straight game Saturday, when he was 7-of-11 on his 2-point attempts and 1-of-7 from 3-point land. Estrada is 11-of-18 on his 2-point attempts and 3-of-13 from 3-point land the last two games which followed a four-game stretch in which he was 27-of-49 on his 2-point attempts and 18-of-30 from beyond the arc.

AARON BUCKETS

Updating a great stat from Hofstra in-game host and occasional play-by-play man Dan Savarino: Aaron Estrada has scored more points in CAA play alone — 352 points in 15 league games — than he did in his entire CAREER entering this season (255 points at Saint Peter’s and Oregon). In addition, he has at least 20 points in 12 CAA games and in 15 games overall after posting just one 20-point game at Saint Peter’s and Oregon. 

ESTRADA IS MR. EVERYTHING

Here’s another great stat, this one from Hofstra SID Stephen Gorchov: Aaron Estrada, who is averaging 18.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game, is one of just three players in the country averaging at least 18 points, five rebounds and five assists. No Hofstra player has averaged at least 18 points, five rebounds and five assists in a season since some guy named Speedy Claxton averaged 22.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 6.0 assists during the 1999-2000 season.

RAY GOES TO ELEVEN, TOO

With his 12 points Saturday afternoon, Jalen Ray increased his career total to 1,682 points and moved past Norman Richardson into 11th place on Hofstra’s all-time scoring list. It marked the first time since Dec. 12 — a span of 17 games — that Ray moved up the scoring list. That quote unquote drought (to be fair, Ray was 220 points behind Richardson following the game against John Jay) came after Ray gained at least a half-spot in 21 of the 26 games he played upon joining the 1,000-point club on Dec. 22, 2020.

Dec. 22, 2020: Tied for 38th place

Jan. 2, 2021: 38th place

Jan. 3: 37th place

Jan. 7: 36th place

Jan. 9: 35th place

Jan. 15: 34th place

Jan. 17: 33rd place

Jan. 23: 29th place

Jan. 24: Tied for 28th place

Jan. 30: 28th place

Jan. 31: 25th place

Feb. 6: 23rd place

Feb. 7: 22nd place

Feb. 13: 21st place

Feb. 14: 21st place

Mar. 7: 18th place

Mar. 8: 17th place

Nov. 16: 16th place

Nov. 19: 15th place

Nov. 22: 15th place

Nov. 24: 15th place

Nov. 27: 15th place

Dec. 1: 15th place

Dec. 4: 14th place

Dec. 8: 13th place

Dec. 12: 12th place

Ray is averaging 13.6 points per game and is 137 points away from surpassing David Taylor for 10th place, which means at his current scoring pace, the Dutchmen would need to win the CAA title and then play five NCAA Tournament games — which would likely get them to the Final Four — for Ray to move past Taylor. I think I speak for all Hofstra fans when I say I’m fine with that.

ZACH STARTS COOKING AGAIN

Zach Cooks got into double digits again at just the right time Saturday, when he scored 12 points. Cooks scored in single digits in each of his previous three games, tying a career-high set previously from Jan. 4-11, 2020.

SIMMONS SURGING

Jarrod Simmons helped spark the Dutchmen’s comeback by scoring all nine of his points in the second half Saturday. He’s scored at least nine points in two of his last three games after doing so just three times in the first 80 games of his career dating back to his freshman year at Penn. Only two of those games — a 12-point effort against Delaware State on Dec. 27, 2017 and a 11-point performance against Lafayette on Nov. 13, 2018 — came against Division I foes. Simmons score a career-high 16 points against Division II Penn State Brandywine on Nov. 18, 2017. 

IYIYOLA’S CAMEO

Abayomi Iyiola scored two points in nine minutes Saturday. It was the second-shortest stint of the season for Iyiola, who played four minutes against Princeton on Dec. 1 after missing the previous four games, and the second time this year a Hofstra starter has played fewer than 10 minutes. Kvonn Cramer played seven minutes against Princeton.

OVER THE AIR

If tonight’s game is played, it will be carried live on SNY (channel 60 in the Optimum/Altice universe) as well as FloHoops.com (subscription required). Hofstra will provide a radio feed as well as live stats at the Pride Productions hub.

SCOUTING ELON

The Phoenix, under third-year head coach Mike Schrage, is (are?) 8-21 this season and 5-11 in CAA play after falling to Drexel, 71-60, on Saturday. It was the fourth straight loss for Elon, whose skid began with an 86-50 loss to Towson on Feb. 12 and a 97-64 loss to Hofstra on Feb. 15. It marked the first time a CAA team lost back-to-back conference games by at least 30 points since Jan. 4-7, 2012, when Towson fell to Drexel 60-27 and lost to Old Dominion 75-38.

Someone who warns you his picks are for entertainment purposes only picked Elon as his Shoe-In of the Day. It was the most lopsided game in the CAA since Hofstra beat Elon 102-61 on Feb. 7, 2019. Elon has played in four of the nine CAA games decided by more than 20 points this season. In consecutive games Jan. 17-20, the Phoenix beat James Madison 90-67 and lost to Drexel 77-49.

The Dutchmen and Phoenix had one common foe in non-league play. Hofstra beat then-no. 24 Arkansas 89-81 on Dec. 18, three days before the Razorbacks took out their frustrations by beating Elon 81-55. Sorry guys! 

In CAA play, both teams have swept James Madison, split with UNC Wilmington and been swept by Towson. The Dutchmen swept beaten Northeastern, which lost to Elon, and lost to William & Mary, which split with Elon. The Dutchmen swept Delaware and Drexel, each of whom swept Elon, and beat Charleston, which swept the Phoenix.

The Dutchmen, who were picked to finish fifth in the CAA preseason poll, are ranked 103rd at KenPom.com. The Phoenix, which was picked to finish sixth, is ranked 280th.

According to KenPom.com. the Dutchmen rank third in the CAA in conference-only offensive efficiency (110.1) and fourth in defensive efficiency (102.5). The Phoenix rank eighth in conference-only offensive efficiency (99.8) and eighth in defensive efficiency (107.2).

Sophomore guard Darius Burford leads Elon in scoring at 13.4 points per game. Junior guard Hunter McIntosh, a preseason first-team all-CAA selection, is averaging 12.8 points per game. Sophomore forward Michael Graham is averaging 9.2 points per game and pulling down a team-high 6.8 rebounds per game. Junior guard Hunter Woods is averaging 4.6 rebounds per game.

KenPom.com predicts an 81-66 win for the Dutchmen. Per the wise guys in Vegas, for entertainment purposes only, the Dutchmen are 13-point favorites. The Dutchmen are 12-13-1 against the spread this season after their streak of covers ended at three games Saturday.

HELLO WE MEET AGAIN

The Dutchmen are playing Elon for a second time this season just nine days (how many days?) after facing the Phoenix for the first time. Discounting last season, when the regular season schedule consisted of back-to-back games against the same opponent, the Dutchmen last faced a team twice in a nine-day span during the regular season from Jan. 26 through Feb. 2, 2017, when they lost to Drexel 81-80 in Philadelphia before winning the rematch 79-77. I think we mentioned that game earlier!

THE CAA RACE

While the Dutchmen have the CAA’s longest active winning streak at six games, comeback wins by UNC Wilmington and Towson on Saturday and Towson's win over James Madison on Wednesday gives Hofstra only the most outside of shots at winning the CAA’s regular season championship for the third time in four seasons.

The Dutchmen (11-4 CAA) do not have any tiebreakers due to being swept by Towson (13-3 CAA), so their only path is to sweep the final three games — all at home against Elon, William & Mary and Charleston — while UNC Wilmington and Towson each lose out. UNC Wilmington is slated to visit Drexel tonight and Delaware Saturday while Towson  first-place UNC Wilmington (13-3 CAA) and second-place Towson (11-3) lose twice apiece. UNC Wilmington hosts James Madison today before visiting Drexel and Delaware while Towson visits James Madison Saturday before completing a suspended game against Delaware on Feb. 28 — which the Tigers trail 38-29 with 18:42 left. Sounds like a tall task, but winning out while everyone else lost out is how my fantasy football team made the playoffs before winning it all a couple months ago!

ALL-TIME VS. ELON

Hofstra is 11-4 against Elon, which joined the CAA prior to the 2014-15 season. The Dutchmen have won the last six regular season games against Elon dating back to an 86-78 loss at the Arena on Jan. 7, 2018 and are seeking their third consecutive regular season sweep. The teams didn’t play each other during the regular season last year, though Elon ended the Dutchmen’s hopes of repeating as CAA champs with a 76-58 win in the CAA semifinals. Hofstra and Elon first opposed each other on Nov. 23, 2009, when the Dutchmen cruised past the Phoenix, 70-46, in a preseason NIT game at the Arena.

THINGS YOU CAN SHOUT ON TWITTER IF CALLS GO DO NOT GO HOFSTRA’S WAY

Ferris Bueller bias! (Not really, but nine days equals nine times, right?)

Nine Days bias! (The band who sang “Story of a Girl” is from Long Island, so that’d probably work for Elon’s purposes, but work with me here people)

Your campus is much larger than ours bias! (Per Wikipedia, which is never wrong, Elon’s campus is a whopping 656 acres, which dwarfs Hofstra’s 244 acres)

Coach K coaching tree bias! (An oldie but goodie for former Duke assistant Mike Schrage)