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)
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