Possible file photo of the Beach family tentatively approaching Dad as he watches Saturday's frigid win. Urge to overreact fading...fading...fading...
The Flying Dutchmen have trailed for 17 seconds over the last 12 days after going the previous 20 consecutive days without a victory. Sure, why not! The Dutchmen stayed hot Saturday, when they trailed for those 17 seconds before storming back to beat Towson, 71-49, at winter homecoming.
As will hopefully remain the case for the rest of the season however long it lasts, here’s the Keep It Perky featuring the usual postgame boilerplate material. The individual news and notes from the win over the Tigers and a preview of Charleston will be posted tomorrow. Enjoy! (Again)
THE MOST RECENT GAME SUMMARIZED IN ONE PARAGRAPH
Biggie Patterson (a game-high 20 points) once again served as a big spark off the bench for the Dutchmen, who led by double digits for the final 28-plus minutes. The teams weren’t separated by more than four points for the first 9:33 before Patterson’s first basket, a 3-pointer, sparked a half-ending 33-9 run that gave the Dutchmen a 46-20 lead at intermission. Patterson had 14 points during the surge, including a four-point play LARRY JOHNSON BIAS. The Dutchmen scored the first five points of the second half and didn’t let their lead slip below 24 points until Towson ended the game on a 7-0 run over the final 1:42. Preston Edmead (14 points, nine assists, five rebounds) again flirted with a triple-double as he posted another impressive all-around game. Cruz Davis (16 points, five assists, five rebounds, two steals, one block) filled up the boxscore in Loren Stokes-esque fashion before getting to sit the final 5:02. Joshua DeCady (six points, four rebounds) and Silas Sunday (five points, eight rebounds) had solid offensive games while helping to limit reigning CAA Player of the Year Tyler Tejada to 17 points. Victory Onuetu added eight points and five rebounds off the bench. Edmead and Davis once again hounded Dylan Williamson, who had three points on 0-of-8 shooting and is 2-of-27 from the field against the Dutchmen this season.
3 STARS OF THE GAME (vs. Towson, 2/7)
3: Biggie Patterson
2: Preston Edmead
1: Cruz Davis
SEASON STANDINGS
Cruz Davis 55
Preston Edmead 41
Biggie Patterson 18
Joshua DeCady 7
Silas Sunday 7
German Plotnikov 7
Victory Onuetu 6
Joshua Aaron Reaves 3
Jaeden Roberts 3
A.J. Wills 2
Alex Tsynkevich 1
WAS THIS A UNICORN SCORE?
YES!!!! I walked out of the Arena thinking I’d seen a 71-49 final at some point, because that’s what normal people think, but nope. I think I was confusing this with the 70-46 wins over ELO on Nov, 23, 2009 and over UNC Wilmington on Jan. 19, 2023. Again, normal person behavior.
Anyway, the Dutchmen only came within a point of a 71-49 win twice before Saturday — first when they beat Central Connecticut State 72-49 on Feb. 21, 1991 and then when they earned a 70-49 win over North Carolina A&T in the regular season finale last Mar. 1.
Incredibly, this is not only the second unicorn score win over the season over Towson but also the second straight unicorn score win against Towson. The Dutchmen last beat the same team for consecutive unicorn score wins from Jan, 9 through Feb. 5, 2022, when they defeated James Madison 87-80 and 85-78, respectively. That’s almost exactly four years ago to the day on both ends! Super quirky!
This is the Dutchmen’s fourth unicorn score victory of the season.
12/10/25: 92-23 over Old Westbury
12/21/25: 74-66 over Quinnipiac
1/8/26: 78-67 over Towson
2/7/26: 71-49 over Towson
This is also the Dutchmen’s 64th unicorn score victory since the start of the 2018-19 season, when we first started tracking unicorn scores.
2025-26: Four unicorn scores
2024-25: Seven unicorn scores
2023-24: Seven unicorn scores
2022-23: 12 unicorn scores
2021-22: 11 unicorn scores
2020-21: Zero unicorn scores (really)
2019-20: 13 unicorn scores
2018-19: 10 unicorn scores
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. You may also know it as a “Scorigami,” a term popularized in the NFL.
WHO HAD THE KEITH HERNANDEZ?
Cruz Davis both moved into some select company and created his own club Saturday afternoon, when he hit the tie-breaking jumper that gave the Dutchmen the lead for good at 9-7 NICE NFC CENTRAL DIVISION WINNER RECORD with 16:21 left in the first half. It was the third straight Keith Hernandez for Davis, who tied Darlinstone Dubar for the most consecutive Keith Hernandezes (at least since 2022-23). Davis has recorded his three straight Keith Hernandezes in three consecutive games, as Dubar did from Feb. 11-16, 2023. Dubar also had the Keith Hernandez in three straight non-consecutive Dutchmen victories in a four-game span from Feb. 24 through Mar. 10, 2024. Quirky stuff! Davis’ jumper also marked the first time this season the Dutchmen have collected the Keith Hernandez on a field goal that wasn’t a 3-pointer or part of a nostalgic 3-point play.
German Plotnikov go-ahead 3-pointer vs. Molloy, 11/10/25 (18:47 left 1H)
Preston Edmead go-ahead 3-pointer vs. Bucknell, 11/14/25 (13:30 left 2H)
Biggie Patterson tie-breaking free throw vs. La Salle, 11/28/25 (1:35 left 2H)
Preston Edmead tie-breaking 3-pointer vs. Merrimack, 11/29/25 (15:25 left 1H)
Biggie Patterson tie-breaking 3-pointer vs. Pennsylvania, 11/30/25 (18:03 left 2H)
Cruz Davis tie-breaking 3-pointer vs. Pittsburgh, 12/7/25 (8:38 left 1H)
Cruz Davis tie-breaking free throw vs. Old Westbury, 12/10/25 (19:50 left 1H)
German Plotnikov go-ahead 3-pointer vs. Syracuse, 12/13/25 (:31.9 left 2H)
Cruz Davis nostalgic 3-point play vs. Quinnipiac, 12/21/25 (3:54 left 2H)
Preston Edmead go-ahead 3-pointer vs. Campbell, 12/29/25 (12:05 left 1H)
German Plotnikov tie-breaking 3-pointer vs. Drexel, 1/3/26 (18:27 left 1H)
German Plotnikov go-ahead 3-pointer vs. Towson, 1/8/26 (3:33 left 1H)
A.J. Wills tie-breaking 3-pointer vs. Monmouth, 1/10/26 (4:31 left OT)
Cruz Davis tie-breaking 3-pointer vs. Monmouth, 1/31/26 (19:50 left 1H)
Cruz Davis tie-breaking 3-pointer vs. Northeastern, 2/5/26 (12:38 left 1H)
Cruz Davis tie-breaking jumper vs. Towson, 2/7/26 (16:21 left 1H)
SEASON STANDINGS
Cruz Davis 6
German Plotnikov 4
Preston Edmead 3
Biggie Patterson 2
A.J. Wills 1
ALL-TIME STANDINGS (or at least since the 2022-23 season)
Tyler Thomas 16
Darlinstone Dubar 14
Cruz Davis 9
German Plotnikov 7
Jean Aranguren 5
Aaron Estrada 4
Preston Edmead 3
Michael Graham 3
Warren Williams 3
Biggie Patterson 2
Silas Sunday 2
Jacco Fritz 2
Jaquan Carlos 2
A.J. Wills 1
Eric Parnell 1
KiJan Robinson 1
Bryce Washington 1
The Keith Hernandez is bestowed upon the player who scores the points that put the Dutchmen ahead for good in a victory. The stat pays homage to Hernandez, the World Series-winning Cardinals and Mets first baseman who had a record 129 game-winning RBIs when the stat was inexplicably discontinued after the 1988 season.
THE FLYING DUTCHMEN AFTER TWENTY-FIVE GAMES
The Dutchmen improved to 16-9 with Saturday afternoon’s win. This ties the 2025-26 team for the 22nd-best record in school history through 25 games. This is the first time the Dutchmen have opened 16-9 since 2021-22 and the sixth time overall in program history. Here is how some notable Hofstra teams have fared through 25 games:
NCAA DIVISION I TOURNAMENT TEAMS
1975-76: 14-11 (win in 25th game marked second win of six-game winning streak that carried Dutchmen into the NCAAs)
1976-77: 19-6 (win in 25th game marked fifth win of nine-game winning streak that carried Dutchmen into the NCAAs)
1999-2000: 19-6
2000-01: 21-4 (win in 25th game marked 13th win in program-record, single-season 18-game winning streak)
2019-20 (IT COUNTS TO US): 18-7 (most recent 18-7 start)
NIT TEAMS
1998-99: 18-7
2004-05: 18-7
2005-06: 20-5 (most recent 20-5 start)
2006-07: 19-6 (most recent 19-6 start)
2015-16: 17-8
2018-19: 21-4 (most recent 21-4 start)
2022-23: 17-8 (most recent 17-8 start, win in 25th game marked fifth win of 12-game winning streak that continued into the CAA Tournament)
NCAA DIVISION II TOURNAMENT TEAMS
1958-59: 19-6
1961-62: 22-3 (best 25-game record in school history)
1962-63: 19-6 (eighth win of 11-game winning streak)
1963-64: 20-5
Some other notable 25-game records:
2024-25: 12-13 (most recent 12-13 start, under .500 for good, loss in 25th game marked third loss of Speedy Claxton-era record six-game losing streak)
2023-24: 15-10 (most recent 15-10 start)
2013-14: 8-17 (most recent 8-17 start, Joe Mihalich’s first team)
2012-13: 6-19 (most recent 6-19 start, tied for worst 25-game record in school history)
2009-10: 12-13 (under .500 for the last time)
2007-08: 9-16 (most recent 9-16 start)
2001-02: 10-15 (only 10-15 start, loss in 25th game marked fourth loss of Tom Pecora-era record-tying eight-game losing streak)
1996-97: 11-14 (most recent 11-14 start)
1994-95: 8-17 (Jay Wright’s first year)
1993-94: 6-19 (loss to ECC foe Chicago State started two-game losing streak heading into ECC Tournament, VBK’s last year)
1992-93: 8-17 (win over ECC foe Central Connecticut in 25th game gave Hofstra a sweep of the seasons series and the “ECC title”)
1991-92: 17-8 (win in 25th game was sixth in nine-game winning streak that ended in ECC title game)
1990-91: 13-12 (most recent 13-12 start)
1987-88: 6-19 (final win of the season and of Dick Berg’s tenure)
1985-86: 14-11 (most recent 14-11 start)
1982-83: 18-7 (final win of season)
1981-82: 11-14 (loss in 25th game was final loss of eight-game losing streak)
1978-79: 8-17 (third loss of season-ending five-game losing streak)
1971-72: 11-14 (lost season finale and Paul Lynner’s final game as coach)
1970-71: 17-8 (win in 25th game was fourth win of season-ending five-game winning streak)
1969-70: 12-13 (under .500 for the last time)
1968-69: 12-13 (won season finale)
1967-68: 13-12 (won season finale)
1966-67: 12-13 (won season finale)
1960-61: 21-4 (lost season finale)
1956-57: 11-14 (final win of season)
1955-56: 21-4 (final win of season)
1952-53: 20-5 (final win of season)
1950-51: 15-10 (third win of six-game winning streak)
Hofstra has never been 25-0, 24-1, 23-2, 7-18, 5-20, 4-21, 3-22, 2-23, 1-24 or 0-25 through 25 games.
Eighteen seasons were completed in fewer than 25 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)
1953-54 (15-9)
1957-58 (15-8)
1959-60 (23-1)
1972-73 (8-16)
1973-74 (8-16)
1974-75 (11-13)
2020-21 (13-10)
Full records not available for the following seasons: 1936-37, 1941-42, 1942-43.
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 ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-EIGHT
With Saturday afternoon’s win, Speedy Claxton improved to 97-61 (.614) as head coach. That’s tied for the third-best known winning percentage for a Hofstra coach through his first 157 games at the helm.
Butch van Breda Kolff I 118-40 (.747, 158th game was the seventh game of his seventh season in 1961-62)
Frank Reilly 114-44 (.722, 158th game was the second game of his seventh season in 1953-54)
Paul Lynner 97-61 (.614, 158th game was the 23rd game of his sixth season in 1967-68)
SPEEDY CLAXTON 97-61 (.614, 158th game was the 25th game of his fifth season in 2025-26)
Joe Mihalich 84-74 (.532, 158th game was the 25th game of his fifth season in 2017-18)
Tom Pecora 83-75 (.525, 158th game was the fifth game of his sixth season in 2006-07)
Dick Berg 80-78 (.506, 158th game was the 19th game of his sixth season in 1985-86)
Jay Wright 80-78 (.506, 158th game was the 13th game of his fifth season in 1998-99)
Roger Gaeckler 76-82 (.481, 158th game was the 26th game of his sixth season in 1977-78)
Butch van Breda Kolff II 72-86 (.456, 158th game was the 17th game of his sixth season in 1993-94)
A couple ties are created in game no. 158 as Speedy Claxton climbs into a tie for third with Paul Lynner while Dick Berg’s win in his 158th game at the helm vaults him into a share of seventh place with Jay Wright, whose 1998-99 squad sees its six-game winning streak — the longest for the program since the 1991-92 season — halted with a 79-77 loss at Maine on Jan. 4, 1999. Butch van Breda Kolff’s final team falls to Saint Joseph’s, 79-60 on Jan. 27, 1994 in the last game before yours truly returned for his second semester at Hofstra. Feels like yesterday.
The records are incomplete for Jack McDonald’s first stint from 1936 through 1943 as well as the tenure of Jack Smith (1943-46).
Smith finished 27-32 in his three seasons while Mo Cassara finished 38-59 in his three seasons. Three coaches had one-season tenures lasting at Hofstra. McDonald went 18-6 in the lone season of his second stint in 1946-47 while Joe Harrington went 14-14 in 1979-80 and Mike Farrelly went 13-10 in 2020-21.
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