Not that Dark Knight (nor the theatrical one).
Well that was fun until it wasn’t. The Flying Dutchmen raced out to a 15-point first half lead Saturday night before the Dutchmen became another victim of UNC Wilmington's voodoo magic in a 78-72 loss at the house of horrors that is Trask Coliseum. (78-72 was the final score, not the final foul count. Oh we’ll be getting to the officiating) The Dutchmen are slated to begin a potentially season-determining homestand tonight, when they are scheduled to host Towson. Here’s a look back at the loss to the Seahawks (and the awful performance by the stripes) and a look ahead to the Tigers.
THE MOST RECENT GAME SUMMARIZED IN ONE PARAGRAPH
For the second straight game, the Dutchmen squandered all of a 15-point lead. But this time, there was no comeback from a late deficit as UNC Wilmington finished the game on a 11-4 run despite the absence of Shykeim Phillips and Jamahri Harvey, each of whom fouled out with more than five minutes left (in the game, not the first half). Darlinstone Dubar, who drew the disqualifying fouls on Phillips and Harvey, scored all eight points for the Dutchmen in an 7-3 run that turned a 64-61 deficit into a 68-67 lead. But Jaylen Fortes drained the go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:59 left and the Dutchmen were 1-of-7 shooting with one turnover the rest of the way. The double-digit comeback was the fifth in eight CAA wins for unbeaten UNC Wilmington, which made it six double-digit comebacks in nine CAA wins (nice) by overcoming an 18-point deficit to beat Drexel on Monday night. Aaron Estrada finished with 17 points and nine rebounds but committed six turnovers. Dubar (12 points, eight rebounds) also flirted with a double-double while the 3,500-point bench tandem of Zach Cooks (15 points) and Jalen Ray (11 points) also got into double figures. The big man combo of Abayomi Iyiola (eight points four rebounds) and Jarrod Simmons (six points, eight rebounds) teamed up for 14 points and 12 rebounds.
3 STARS OF THE GAME (vs. UNC Wilmington, 1/29)
3: Aaron Estrada
2: Darlinstone Dubar
1: Zach Cooks
SEASON STANDINGS
Aaron Estrada 38
Darlinstone Dubar 27
Jalen Ray 20
Zach Cooks 17
Abayomi Iyiola 12
Omar Silverio 8
Kvonn Cramer 4
THE FLYING DUTCHMEN AFTER TWENTY-ONE GAMES
With Saturday’s loss, the Dutchmen fell to 13-8, which is tied for the 27th-best start in program history. It’s the first time the Dutchmen have opened 13-8 since the 1997-98 season — Speedy Claxton was a sophomore point guard! — and just the sixth time overall in program history. Here is how some notable Hofstra teams have fared through 21 games.
NCAA DIVISION I TOURNAMENT TEAMS
1975-76: 11-10 (over .500 for good)
1976-77: 15-6 (win in 21st game marked first win of nine-game winning streak that carried Dutchmen into the NCAAs)
1999-2000: 16-5 (win in 21st game marked ninth win of 10-game winning streak)
2000-01: 17-4 (win in 21st game marked ninth win in program-record 18-game winning streak)
2019-20 (IT COUNTS TO US): 14-7 (most recent 14-7 start)
NIT TEAMS
1998-99: 14-7
2004-05: 14-7
2005-06: 17-4 (most recent 17-4 start)
2006-07: 16-5 (most recent 16-5 start)
2015-16: 15-6 (most recent 15-6 start)
2018-19: 18-3 (most recent 18-3 start, win in 21st game marked 15th win in the 16-game winning streak)
NCAA DIVISION II TOURNAMENT TEAMS
1958-59: 16-5
1961-62: 18-3 (only other 18-3 start)
1962-63: 15-6 (fourth win of 11-game winning streak)
1963-64: 17-4
Some other notable 21-game records:
2020-21: 12-9 (most recent 12-9 start, loss in 21st game marked the unplanned and unexpected regular season finale because of, well, you know)
2016-17: 10-11 (most recent 10-11 start; win in 21st game snapped Mihalich-era record six-game losing streak)
2013-14: 7-14 (most recent 7-14 start, Joe Mihalich’s first team)
2012-13: 5-16 (most recent 5-16 start)
2009-10: 9-12 (most recent 9-12 start, season-low three games under .500)
1988-89: 8-13 (most recent 8-13 start)
2001-02: 10-11 (last time within one win of .500, Tom Pecora’s first team)
1996-97: 10-11 (under .500 for good)
1995-96: 7-14 (loss in 21st game marked seventh loss of Jay Wright-era record nine-game losing streak)
1994-95: 6-15 (most recent 6-15 start, Jay Wright’s first year)
1993-94: 4-17 (most recent 4-17 start, VBK’s last year)
1991-92: 13-8 (win in 21st game was second in nine-game winning streak that ended in ECC title game)
1987-88: 4-17 (loss in 21st game was 11th loss of program-record 12-game losing streak)
1984-95: 11-10 (most recent 11-10 start)
1974-75: 8-13 (last loss of season)
1972-73: 8-13 (last win of season)
1971-72: 11-10 (over .500 for the last time, last win of season)
1970-71: 13-8 (last loss of season)
1959-60: 20–1 (most recent 20-1 start & Hofstra’s winningest team, percentage-wise; win in 21st game was 10th win of season-ending 13-game winning streak)
1944-45: 8-13 (lost season finale)
1939-40: 12-9 (won season finale)
Hofstra has never been 21-0, 3-18, 2-19, 1-20 or 0-21 through 21 games.
Seven seasons were completed in fewer than 20 games:
1936-37: 10-7
1937-38: 10-4
1938-39: 10-8
1940-41: 13-7
1943-44: 7-12
1945-46: 12-7
1947-48: 13-6
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-ONE
With Saturday’s loss, Speedy Claxton fell to 13-8 as head coach. He is the first coach to open 13-8 at Hofstra and the seventh to post a winning record through 21 games in his first season (or the first season of a second stints). Jack McDonald steered the Dutchmen to a 15-5 start in the first (and only) season of his second stint while Butch van Breda Kolff began 20-1 in his first stint (1955-56). Paul Lynner opened 15-6 in 1962-63, Joe Harrington started 12-9 in his lone season in 1979-80 and Mo Cassara opened 14-7 in 2010-11 before Mike Farrelly started 12-9 in his lone season at the helm last year. (Frank Reilly’s first team finished 13-6 in 1947-48)
DOUBLE DIGITS NOT ENOUGH
The Dutchmen, who led by 15 points in the first half Saturday, squandered a double-digit lead in a loss for the third time this season. The Dutchmen led Houston by 13 points in the second half of an 83-75 overtime loss in the season opener on Nov. 9 and led Richmond by 14 points in the first half of an 81-68 loss to Richmond on Nov. 22. The lead was the largest squandered in a loss by the Dutchmen since Jan. 7, 2021 when the Dutchmen led Northeastern by 19 points in the second half of an 81-78 overtime loss.
In addition, the loss Saturday marked the third time since the 2015-16 season the Dutchmen have given up a double-digit lead in a loss to UNC Wilmington. All three losses have come at different venues — at the Arena (a 20-point first-half lead in a 70-67 loss on Feb. 4, 2016), at Baltimore’s Royal Farms Arena (a 12-point second-half lead in an 80-73 overtime loss in the CAA championship game on Mar. 7, 2016) and at Trask (Saturday, duh). Bingo?
RECORD-TYING RAY (part one)
By entering the game with 16:06 left in the first half Saturday night, Jalen Ray officially played in his program-record 142nd career game, breaking a tie for first place with former teammate Desure Buie. Congrats to Ray on a terrific accomplishment, one that could become unbreakable with some good health and a deep tournament run or two. The Dutchmen are scheduled to play at least 11 more game this season (10 regular season CAA games plus one tournament game).
RECORD-TYING RAY (part two)
And by draining a 3-pointer on his first shot of the game fewer than three minutes later, Ray surpassed another former teammate, Justin Wright-Foreman, for second place on the program's all-time 3-pointer list with 278. It was the only 3-pointer of the game for Ray. Alas, as noted before, as much as we all like seeing Ray in a Hofstra uniform, he’s probably not going to get the eligibility needed to catch Antoine Agudio, whose 357 3-pointers might just be the untouchable modern-day version of Bill Thieben’s rebounding record.
A FOUL STENCH (part one)
The Dutchmen were whistled for 25 fouls by a badly overmatched crew Saturday night, their most since they collected 25 fouls in an 82-73 win over William & Mary on Jan. 3, 2021. UNC Wilmington was called for 24 fouls (it was an equally bad whistle), which tied a season-high for fouls by a Hofstra opponent set by Detroit Mercy on Nov. 27. The 49 total fouls were the most in a Hofstra game since 50 fouls were called in the William & Mary game on Jan. 3, 2021. Somehow, the same crew didn’t officiate each game.
A FOUL STENCH (part two)
This stat comes with quite the asterisk (see above), but Kvonn Cramer returned to action after missing four games due to injury and picked up four fouls in two minutes. That’s the fastest a Hofstra player has recorded four fouls dating back to at least the 2005-06 season, a stretch of 16-plus seasons. The most recent Dutchman to pick up four fouls in fewer than five minutes was Kevin Schutte, who had four fouls i four minutes against William & Mary on Jan. 3, 2021.
NO DIMES TO SPARE
The Dutchmen finished with just five assists Saturday, their fewest since collecting five assists in a 76-54 loss to Delaware on Jan. 15, 2021. The Dutchmen haven’t won a game in which they finished with five assists or fewer since Feb. 28, 2019, when they had four assists in an 80-77 win over Drexel.
ESTRADA'S TRIPLE CROWN
Aaron Estrada led the Dutchmen with 19 points, nine rebounds and three assists Saturday night. It was the first time a Hofstra player has led the team in all three categories since way back on Feb. 23, 2008, when freshman Charles Jenkins had 28 points, 10 rebounds and four assists in an 81-63 win over Iona. Wonder if that guy panned out? Several players since then have held at least a share of the team lead in all three categories, most recently on Jan. 16, 2020, when Tareq Coburn led the Dutchmen with 15 points and nine rebounds and was one of four player with two assists in a 63-61 win over UNC Wilmington.
HITTING FOR THE CYCLE (sorta)?
Alas, Estrada also led the Dutchmen with six turnovers Saturday. He is the first Hofstra player to commit at least six turnovers at least twice in the same season since Justin Wright-Foreman had three such games during the 2018-19 season.
BENCH BRIGADE
Zach Cooks and Jalen Ray remained the nation’s only pair of 1,500-point scorers coming off the bench Saturday, when Cooks had 15 points and Ray finished with 11 points. It marked the first time the Dutchmen had two double-digit scorers off the bench since Nov. 30, 2020, when Kvonn Cramer scored 12 points and Omar Silverio added 10 points, and just the ninth time it's happened in the Joe Mihalich/Mike Farrelly/Speedy Claxton era.
STILL THE LAST OF THE UNBEATENS
UNC Wilmington’s comeback kept the Seahawks unbeaten and atop the CAA at 8-0. (Now 9-0, after the Seahawks overcame an 18-point first half deficit to beat Drexel on Monday) The Dutchmen fell to 1-4 all-time when opposing the CAA's last unbeaten team, with the losses to UNC Wilmington and Old Dominion (71-66 on Jan. 10, 2004 and 67-66 on Jan. 19, 2005) and a win over VCU (79-68 on Jan. 31, 2007). This could still be a relevant stat by Monday afternoon.
FEBRUARY = CRUNCH TIME
The Flying Dutchmen have fared well in February, which, as you likely know, began Tuesday. Since joining the CAA in 2001-02, the Dutchmen are 96-66 (.593) in regular season games played on or after Feb. 1. That's a really good record over a full baseball season! The Dutchmen went 7-1 in February 2020, when they surged into first place and won their second straight CAA regular season title, and 1-3 last February, when they played just those four games due to, well, you know.
It’s also a good time to note that the surge in February2020 improved Joe Mihalich's record to 119-61 (.661) in regular season games in February or March.
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 TOWSON
The Tigers, under 11th-year head coach Pat Skerry, are 16-6 this season and 7-2 in CAA play after edging Drexel, 66-62, on Saturday afternoon. A 10th game remains in limbo for Towson, whose game against Delaware on Jan. 27 was suspended due to unsafe court conditions with 18:42 left in the second half and Delaware leading 38-29. The game is scheduled to be concluded Feb. 28.
The Dutchmen and Tigers had one common foe in non-league play. Hofstra beat Monmouth 77-71 on Dec. 22 while Towson fell to the Hawks 79-71 on Nov. 13. Almost the same score! In the CAA, both teams have beaten Northeastern, Charleston, Delaware and Drexel, the latter of whom split with Towson. Both teams have lost to UNC Wilmington while Towson beat William & Mary, which defeated Hofstra.
Tonight’s game pits the top two teams in the CAA, per KenPom.com. The Dutchmen, who were picked to finish fifth in the CAA preseason poll, are ranked 115th at KenPom.com. The Tigers, who were picked to finish eighth, are ranked 89th.
According to KenPom.com. the Dutchmen rank sixth in the CAA in conference-only offensive efficiency (105.1) and third in defensive efficiency (101.3). The Tigers rank third in conference-only offensive efficiency (109.4) and first in defensive efficiency (100.5).
Senior guard Cam Holden, a transfer from Tennessee-Martin who is playing through a broken jaw, leads the Tigers with 14.4 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. Junior guard Nicolas Timberlake (13.8 points per game) junior guard Jason Gibson (10.6 points per game) and graduate senior Terry Nolan Jr. (10.1 points per game), a transfer from Bradley, are also averaging in double figures. Junior forward Charles Thompson, who was named the CAA Player of the Week last week after collecting 38 points and 20 rebounds in wins over Delaware and Drexel, is averaging 9.0 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. Thompson, Holden, Gibson and Timberlake have all been named the CAA Player of the Week once this season.
KenPom.com predicts a 72-71 win for the Dutchmen. That sounds tense. Per the wise guys in Vegas, for entertainment purposes only, the Dutchmen are 2 1/2-point favorites. The Dutchmen are 9-10 against the spread this season.
THE ECC RACE
It’s back! As big as tonight’s game is in the CAA standings, it’s even bigger in the only conference race that matters in America. A Towson win would eliminate Hofstra, which has won or shared the ECC title in each of the last three full seasons, from contention and all but lock up the title for the Tigers. Again, I implore you to stop looking at me, this is a real thing.
Towson 3-1
HOFSTRA 2-1
Delaware 1-2
Drexel 1-3
ALL-TIME VS. TOWSON
Hofstra is 46-28 against Towson in a series that began during the 1982-83 season, when both schools were in the East Coast Conference. The Tigers are the first CAA team the Dutchmen are facing for a second time this season. Towson won the first meeting in Maryland on Jan. 11, when Jason Gibson drained eight 3-pointers and finished with 26 points in a 78-66 victory. The Tigers are seeking their first season sweep since 2016-17.
Hofstra and Towson opposed one another in the ECC and the North Atlantic Conference/America East before moving together to the CAA for the 2001-02 school year. Hofstra has faced only two opponents as often as it’s faced Towson: Longtime conference rivals Delaware and Drexel.
THINGS YOU CAN SHOUT ON TWITTER IF CALLS GO DO NOT GO HOFSTRA’S WAY
Not that Dark Knight bias! (The ever-quotable Pat Skerry says Cam Holden stole his protective mask from the set of The Dark Knight Rises)
Tom Brady finally retired bias! (The Massachusetts-born Skerry is a big fan of Brady and the Patriots)
Chuck Lightening bias! (Lightening, who starred on Towson’s most recent NCAA Tournament team in 1990-91 and then again on their ECC-winning 1991-92 squad, is quite an entertaining analyst on their radio broadcasts)
The Amazing Race bias! (Per Wikipedia, which is never wrong, Towson alums Charla Bakalayan Faddol and Mirna Hindoyan appeared on two editions of The Amazing Race)
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