I'll Be Quirky: Hofstra vs. UNC Wilmington

Trask doesn't need to get doubly excited for a Saturday night game against Hofstra, but here's a halftime ceremony honoring the 2002 NCAA Tournament team anyway!

Aaron Estrada added another line to his CAA Player of the Year resume Thursday night, when he scored 30 points — including the go-ahead 3-pointer with 3:08 left — as the Flying Dutchmen edged Charleston, 76-73. The win sets up a potential midseason classic tonight, when the Dutchmen are slated to visit unbeaten UNC Wilmington. A Saturday night at UNC Wilmington, what could poss-i-bly go wrong? Here’s a look back at the win over the Cougars and a look ahead to the Seahawks.

THE MOST RECENT GAME SUMMARIZED IN ONE PARAGRAPH

The Dutchmen squandered all of a 15-point first-half lead before Aaron Estrada went all Charles Jenkins/Justin Wright-Foreman by scoring the last 14 points over the final 5:11. Estrada, who had 23 second-half points, gave the Dutchmen a pair of four-point leads before Raekwon Horton hit a 3-pointer with 1:26 left. The teams traded three misses before John Meeks, an 82.8 percent foul shooter up to that moment, was fouled with eight seconds left. Meeks missed both free throws, Estrada hit two free throws after being fouled prior to the inbounds and Meeks then missed a 3-pointer just before the buzzer. Estrada also had seven assists, five rebounds and three steals. Dubar had 16 points, including 12 in the first half, and three blocks. Omar Silverio and Zach Cooks had nine points apiece while Abayomi Iyiola scored just four points but had 12 rebounds, two steals and a block. 

3 STARS OF THE GAME (vs. Charleston, 1/27)

3: Aaron Estrada

2: Darlinstone Dubar

1: Abayomi Iyiola

SEASON STANDINGS

Aaron Estrada 35

Darlinstone Dubar 25

Jalen Ray 20

Zach Cooks 16

Abayomi Iyiola 12

Omar Silverio 8

Kvonn Cramer 4

WAS THIS A UNICORN SCORE?

No! That’s four straight non-unicorn wins in a row, which sure beats not having to look up unicorn score possibilities. The Dutchmen’s most recent 76-73 win was a memorable one barely three years ago — on Jan. 11, 2018, when Jalen Ray hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer in transition to beat Towson. This makes two straight wins whose previous final score came over a Baltimore-area opponent. Watch out, UMBC!

The Dutchmen have recorded eight unicorn score victories this season. The Dutchmen recorded no unicorn scores last season after recording 13 unicorn scores in 2019-20 and 10 unicorn scores 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 GAMES

With Thursday's win, the Dutchmen improved to 13-7, which is tied for the 23rd-best start in program history. It’s the first time the Dutchmen have opened 13-7 since the 2008-09 season and just the fifth time overall in program history. Here is how some notable Hofstra teams have fared through 20 games.

NCAA DIVISION I TOURNAMENT TEAMS

1975-76: 10-10 (loss in 20th game was final regular season loss)

1976-77: 14-6

1999-2000: 15-5

2000-01: 16-4 (marked eighth win in program-record 18-game winning streak)

2019-20 (IT COUNTS TO US): 14-6 (most recent 14-6 start)

NIT TEAMS

1998-99: 13-7

2004-05: 14-6

2005-06: 16-4 (most recent 16-4 start)

2006-07: 15-5 (most recent 15-5 start)

2015-16: 14-6

2018-19: 17-3 (most recent 17-3 start, win in 20th game marked 13th win in the 16-game winning streak)

NCAA DIVISION II TOURNAMENT TEAMS

1958-59: 15-5

1961-62: 18-2 (most recent 18-2 start)

1962-63: 14-6

1963-64: 17-3

Some other notable 20-game records:

2020-21: 12-8 (most recent 12-8 start)

2016-17: 9-11 (most recent 9-11 start; loss in 20th game marked final loss of Mihalich-era record six-game losing streak)

2013-14: 7-13 (most recent 7-13 start, Joe Mihalich’s first team)

2012-13: 5-15 (most recent 5-15 start)

2007-08: 6-14 (most recent 6-14 start)

2003-04: 8-12 (most recent 8-12 start)

2001-02: 9-11 (Tom Pecora’s first team)

1996-97: 10-10 (most recent 10-10 start, last time at .500)

1995-96: 7-13 (loss in 20th game marked sixth loss of Jay Wright-era record nine-game losing streak)

1994-95: 6-14 (first 6-14 start, win in 20th game marked final win of three-game winning streak, the first winning streak of Wright’s first year)

1993-94: 3-17 (only 3-17 start, VBK’s final team)

1991-92: 12-8 (win in 20th game was first in nine-game winning streak that ended in ECC title game)

1990-91: 11-9 (most recent 11-9 start)

1987-88: 4-16 (only 4-16 start, loss in 20th game was 10th loss of program-record 12-game losing streak)

1960-61: 18-2 (first 18-2 start)

1959-60: 19-1 (most recent 19-1 start & Hofstra’s winningest team, percentage-wise; win in 20th game was ninth win of season-ending 13-game winning streak)

1955-56: 19-1 (first 19-1 start, VBK’s first year)

1944-45: 8-12 (win in penultimate game was final win of season)

1940-41: 13-7 (won regular season finale)

Hofstra has never been 20-0, 2-18, 1-19 or 0-20 through 20 games. 

Six seasons were completed in fewer than 20 games:

1936-37: 10-7

1937-38: 10-4

1938-39: 10-8

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

With Thursday’s win, Speedy Claxton improved to 13-7 as head coach. He is the first coach to open 13-7 at Hofstra and the seventh to post a winning record through 20 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 19-1 in his first stint (1955-56). Paul Lynner opened 14-6 in 1962-63, Joe Harrington started 12-8 in his lone season in 1979-80 and Mo Cassara opened 14-6 in 2010-11. (Frank Reilly’s first team finished 13-6 in 1947-48)

IT’S BEEN SUCH A LONG TIME

The Dutchmen and Charleston played Thursday for the first time since Feb. 13, 2020 — a span of 713 days. A lot happened in between. It’s obviously the longest the Dutchmen have gone in between playing a conference foe. The previous longest gap between conference games for Hofstra in the CAA was a 414-day span between games against James Madison on Jan. 5, 2006 and Feb. 24, 2007. Gaps of a year-plus between games against conference foes could return next year, when the round-robin schedule is likely to disappear when the CAA expands to 12 teams. 

WINNERS WIN

The win over Charleston broke the all-time series tie (the Dutchmen now lead it 8-7) just 10 days after a win over Drexel snapped the all-time series tie there (the Dutchmen lead it 48-47) and resulted in this terrific note from loyal reader EvanJ: Hofstra now has the all-time series lead against every current CAA opponent and against every future CAA opponent except Monmouth (tied 6-6) and Hampton (never played). Like certain other things in American life, the majority is a shaky one: In addition to the tie with Monmouth and the narrow all-time leads over Charleston and Drexel, the Dutchmen lead the series against Northeastern (27-25) and UNC Wilmington (24-22) by two wins apiece. But that’s enough for a mandate! Right?

SIZZLING START…

The Dutchmen raced out to a 13-0 lead Thursday, which was their biggest game-opening run of the season and their biggest since they also took a 13-0 lead against Delaware on Jan. 17, 2021. The Dutchmen almost squandered a 20-point lead in that game, which they won 68-67. We bring this up because…

…MIDDLING MIDDLE

The Dutchmen led by as many as 15 points in the first half before falling behind for the first time with 11:35 left in the game, when a dunk by Charleston’s John Meeks put the Cougars up 52-51. Charleston led by as many as four before the Dutchmen (and Aaron Estrada) mounted their comeback. The 15-point lead was the biggest squandered in a game in which the Dutchmen fell behind before winning since Jan. 31, 2021, when they led UNC Wilmington by 17 and trailed by one multiple times in the second half before earning an 89-83 victory.

30 FOR 30

Where to start with Aaron Estrada’s monster game? Well, due to two first-half fouls, the second of which forced him to the bench for the final 4:26, he needed just 30 minutes to score his 30 points — the fewest minutes for any Hofstra 30-point scorer in the CAA era. The only players to previously score at least 30 points in as few as 31 minutes are Justin Wright-Foreman, who scored 30 points in 31 minutes against William & Mary on Jan. 2, 2017, and Eli Pemberton, who scored 35 points in 31 minutes against James Madison on Feb. 29, 2020.

SURGING SECOND HALF

Aaron Estrada scored 23 points in the second half Thursday, the most points scored by a Hofstra player in the second half since Desure Buie scored 26 second-half points on his way to finishing with a career-high 44 points in an 102-75 win over Elon on Jan. 4, 2020.

THE 30-30 CLUB

The 30 points tied a career high for Aaron Estrada, who also had 30 points against Delaware on Jan. 15. Estrada is the 14th Hofstra player to have at least two 30-point games since 1991 and the first to join the club since Jalen Ray, who scored 30 points against Drexel last Feb. 6 and 34 points against Delaware in the CAA Tournament quarterfinals last Mar. 7.

THE 30/5/5/3 CLUB

Aaron Estrada finished with 30 points, five rebounds, seven assists and three steals Thursday. He’s the first Hofstra player with at least 30 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals since Juan’ya Green had 30 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and four steals against William & Mary on Jan. 24, 2016.

DEUCES FOR D-STONE

Darlinstone Dubar was perfect from inside the 3-point arc Thursday, when he was 6-of-6 on 2-point field goals. It was the second time this season Dubar was perfect (minimum five attempts) from inside the 3-point arc. He was also 6-of-6 on 2-point field goals against Princeton on Dec. 1.

RECORD-TYING RAY (part one)

By entering the game with 13:33 left in the first half Thursday night, Jalen Ray officially played in his 141st career game, which tied former teammate Desure Buie for the most games played in program history. Ray, of course, is on pace to break the record tonight.

RECORD-TYING RAY (part two)

And by draining a 3-pointer on his first shot of the game a mere 21 seconds later, Ray tied another former teammate, Justin Wright-Foreman, for second place on the program's all-time 3-pointer list with 277. 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.

RAY REINED IN

That 3-pointer ended up being the only basket of the day for Ray, who finished with three points one game after being limited to two points against Northeastern. The back-to-back single-digit efforts are the first for Ray since Feb. 22-27, 2020, when he had four points against Delaware before going scoreless against Towson.

NOT BAD TO HAVE IN RESERVE

Zach Cooks and Jalen Ray both served as reserves again Thursday, meaning it’s been at least two straight games in which the Dutchmen have had two 1,500-point scorers coming off the bench! Only five other teams even HAVE two 1,500-point scorers on their roster, and only two have more combined points than Cooks and Ray, who enter tonight with 3,596 points. Richmond’s Grant Golden and Jacob Gilyard have combined for 3,836 points while Alabama-Birmingham’s Michael Ertle and Quan Jackson have combined for 3,612 points. UAB is scheduled to play Marshall tonight.

In addition to playing Richmond this season, Hofstra also opposed another team with a tandem of 1,500-point scorers in Arkansas, whose duo of Stanley Umude and JD Notae have combined for 3,416 points.

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 UNC WILMINGTON

The Seahawks, under second-year head coach Takayo Siddle, are 13-5 this season and 7-0 in CAA play after beating Northeastern, 67-62, on Thursday. UNC Wilmington has won 10 straight overall dating back to Dec. 15, which is tied for the third-longest active winning streak in Division I and one win shy of tying the longest winning streak in program history, which was set in 2015-16. Grumble, grumble.

In addition, the Seahawks’ 7-0 CAA start marks the program’s most consecutive wins without a loss to open CAA play since they opened 9-0 on their way to a second straight CAA title in 2016-17. Grumble, grumble.

The Dutchmen and Seahawks had no common foes in non-league play. In the CAA, both teams have beaten Delaware, Charleston, James Madison and Northeastern (from whom the Seahawks have already swept the season series) while Hofstra has lost to Towson, which *checks notes* lost to UNC Wilmington.

The Dutchmen, who were picked to finish fifth in the CAA preseason poll, are ranked 110th at KenPom.com. The Seahawks, who were picked to finish ninth, are ranked 234th. Frankly, I’d use that as bulletin board material if I were Siddle.

According to KenPom.com. the Dutchmen rank second in the CAA in offensive efficiency (109.0) and third in defensive efficiency (103.0). The Seahawks rank seventh in offensive efficiency (100.2) and sixth in defensive efficiency (105.1). OK maybe that’s why KenPom has the Seahawks ranked seventh overall in the CAA.

Senior guard Jaylen Sims, who was a preseason honorable mention all-CAA selection, leads the Seahawks with 14.4 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. He also kept the Seahawks unbeaten in CAA play with this Daniel Dixon-esque buzzer-beater against James Madison on Jan. 20. Junior guard Shykeim Phillips, the reigning co-CAA Player of the Week, ranks second in scoring at 11.6 points per game while graduate senior guard Mike Okauru, who was also a preseason honorable mention all-CAA selection, is averaging 11.3 points per game. Freshman forward Trazarien White is second in rebounding at 4.6 rebounds per game.

KenPom.com predicts a 73-69 win for the Dutchmen. Per the wise guys in Vegas, for entertainment purposes only, the Dutchmen are 4 1/2-point favorites. The Dutchmen are 9-9 against the spread this season after Charleston covered as a 3-point underdog Thursday.

THE LAST OF THE UNBEATENS

Tonight marks the fourth time the Dutchmen have opposed the CAA’s last unbeaten team and the first time they’ve done so in almost exactly 15 years. The Dutchmen ended VCU’s hopes of a perfect CAA season with a 79-68 win on Jan 31, 2007. VCU’s 11-0 start remained unmatched until Delaware opened 11-0 in 2013-14. Hofstra lost to Old Dominion when the Monarchs were the last unbeaten team in consecutive seasons, falling 71-66 on Jan. 10, 2004 and 67-66 on Jan. 19, 2005.

ALL-TIME VS. UNC WILMINGTON

Hofstra is 24-22 against UNC Wilmington in a series that began when the Dutchmen joined the CAA prior to the 2001-02 season.The Dutchmen swept last season’s series, which consisted of back-to-back games at Trask Coliseum due to the pandemic. The Dutchmen earned an 82-73 win on Jan. 30 before recording an 89-83 victory the next day. The regular season sweep was the second straight for the Dutchmen.

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

First CAA title team of the Hofstra-in-the-CAA bias! (UNC Wilmington, which doesn’t need any help against the Dutchmen on Saturday nights at home, is honoring the 2002 team — which won the CAA and a first-round NCAA Tournament game — at halftime)

Saturday nights at Trask are nightmares bias! (Seriously, those 2017-19 losses — especially the 2019 one — still give us a jolt)

Devontae Cacok shouldn’t be in the G-League bias! (Because he should be in the NBA just for what he used to do to Hofstra alone)

You’re just mad over Charles Jenkins’ eight-point play bias! (Maybe the finest of the oldest but goodies)

I'll Be Quirky: Hofstra at Charleston

Overtime tonight would consist of a game of knifey-spoony.

The Flying Dutchmen were on the right side of a rare lopsided outcome Saturday, when Zach Cooks returned with a flourish in a 72-50 win over Northeastern. The Dutchmen will (hopefully) continue their key three-game road trip tonight, when they are slated to visit Charleston in the first game between the teams since, well, you know. Here’s a look back at the win over the Huskies and a look ahead to the Cougars.

THE MOST RECENT GAME SUMMARIZED IN ONE PARAGRAPH

Zach Cooks, back after missing the previous four games (and six of the previous seven), hit his first five shots and finished with 19 points — including the 2,000th of his career — as the Dutchmen trailed just once in cruising past Northeastern. Cooks also added three steals. Aaron Estrada scored 16 points — and hit two 3-pointers! — and finished with eight rebounds, which tied him with Omar Silverio for the team lead. The eight rebounds were a career high for Silverio. Darlinstone Dubar had 10 points, three rebounds and three assists while Abayomi Iyiola scored seven of his eight points during an 8-2 run that helped the Dutchmen begin creating separation just before the first media timeout of the second half. Jarrod Simmons added six points and five rebounds in 20 minutes.

3 STARS OF THE GAME (vs. Northeastern, 1/22)

3: Zach Cooks

2: Aaron Estrada

1: Abayomi Iyiola

SEASON STANDINGS

Aaron Estrada 32

Darlinstone Dubar 23

Jalen Ray 20

Zach Cooks 16

Abayomi Iyiola 11

Omar Silverio 8

Kvonn Cramer 4

WAS THIS A UNICORN SCORE?

No! That’s three straight non-unicorn score wins in a row. *shifts uncomfortably in seat* It’d been a long time, though, since the Dutchmen’s previous 72-50 win which came against Baltimore (presumably the university, not the entire city) in the third game of the 1956-57 season. My parents were eight and nine years old, respectively, way back then! 

The Dutchmen have recorded eight unicorn score victories this season. The Dutchmen recorded no unicorn scores last season after recording 13 unicorn scores in 2019-20 and 10 unicorn scores 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 NINETEEN GAMES

With Saturday’s win, the Dutchmen improved to 12-7, which is tied for the 27th-best start in program history. It’s the second straight season in which the Dutchmen have opened 12-7 and the seventh time overall in program history. Here is how some notable Hofstra teams have fared through 19 games.

NCAA DIVISION I TOURNAMENT TEAMS

1975-76: 10-9

1976-77: 14-5

1999-2000: 14-5

2000-01: 15-4 (marked seventh win in program-record 18-game winning streak)

2019-20 (IT COUNTS TO US): 14-5

NIT TEAMS

1998-99: 13-6

2004-05: 13-6

2005-06: 15-4 (most recent 15-4 start)

2006-07: 14-5

2015-16: 13-6 (most recent 13-6 start)

2018-19: 16-3 (marked 13th win in the 16-game winning streak)

NCAA DIVISION II TOURNAMENT TEAMS

1958-59: 14-5

1961-62: 17-2 (most recent 17-2 start)

1962-63: 13-6

1963-64: 16-3

Some other notable 19-game records:

2020-21: 12-7 (previous 12-7 start)

2016-17: 9-10 (most recent 9-10 start, under .500 for good; loss in 19th game marked fifth loss of Mihalich-era record six-game losing streak)

2013-14: 7-12 (most recent 7-12 start, Joe Mihalich’s first team)

2012-13: 5-14 (most recent 5-14 start)

2011-12: 6-13 (most recent 6-13 start)

2003-04: 8-11 (most recent 8-11 start)

1995-96: 7-12 (loss in 19th game marked fifth loss of Wright-era record nine-game losing streak)

1994-95: 5-14 (win in 19th game marked second win of three-game winning streak, the first streak in Wright’s first year)

1997-98: 11-8 (most recent 11-8 start)

1993-94: 3-16 (only 3-16 start, 84-76 win over Central Connecticut in 19th game was lone regular season ECC win and also the first game I ever covered, VBK’s last team)

1990-91: 10-9 (most recent 10-9 start)

1987-88: 4-15 (only 4-15 start, loss in 19th game was ninth loss of program-record 12-game losing streak)

1985-96: 10-9 (over .500 for good)

1964-65: 9-10 (under .500 for good)

1960-61: 17-2 (most recent 17-2 start)

1959-60: 18-1 (most recent 18-1 start & Hofstra’s winningest team, percentage-wise; win in 19th game was eighth win of season-ending 13-game winning streak)

1956-57: 9-10 (under .500 for good)

1955-56: 18-1 (VBK’s first year, first 18-1 start)

1947-48: 13-6 (won season finale)

1945-46: 12-7 (won season finale)

1943-44: 7-12 (won season finale)

Hofstra has never been 19-0, 2-17, 1-18 or 0-19 through 19 games. 

Three seasons were completed in fewer than 19 games:

1936-37: 10-7

1937-38: 10-4

1938-39: 10-8

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 NINETEEN

With Saturday’s win, Speedy Claxton improved to 12-7 as head coach. He is the second straight coach to open 12-7 at Hofstra, following Mike Farrelly, and the eighth to post a winning record through 19 games in his first season (or the first season of a second stints). Jack McDonald steered the Dutchmen to a 15-4 start in the first (and only) season of his second stint while Frank Reilly (1947-48) began 13-6 and Butch van Breda Kolff began 18-1 in his first stint (1955-56). Paul Lynner opened 13-6 in 1962-63. Joe Harrington started 11-8 in his lone season in 1979-80 and Mo Cassara opened 13-6 in 2010-11.

IT’S BEEN SUCH A LONG TIME (part one)

The 22-point win for the Dutchmen snapped a streak of 51 consecutive games against Division I teams decided by fewer than 20 points dating back to Feb. 1, 2020, when Hofstra rolled to a 83-60 win over William & Mary. That was the nation’s longest active streak of games decided by fewer than 20 points. The leader now is Northern Kentucky, which, in addition to being the potential home of the Simpson family, has played 46 straight games against Division I foes decided by fewer than 20 points.

IT’S BEEN SUCH A LONG TIME (part two)

And the 22-point win for the Dutchmen marked the most lopsided result in a Hofstra-Northeastern game since Jan. 5, 2009, when the Huskies earned a 73-50 win (whoa, almost the same score!) in Boston. The margin of victory for the Dutchmen Saturday was their largest against Northeastern since a 94-70 win on Jan. 26, 2001, when both schools were still in the America East. 

ZACH COO2KS

Zach Cooks reached an impressive career milestone with his final basket of the game Saturday, when his 3-pointer with 6:10 remaining gave him exactly 2,000 points in his career. Cooks has 212 points for Hofstra after collecting 1,788 points in four years at New Jersey Institute of Technology. Cooks is the fifth active Division I player with 2,000 points. Ironically, in that it’s coincidence, Cooks and the Dutchmen have oppose two of the other 2,000 point scorers this season in Detroit Mercy’s Antoine Davis, who leads all active players with 2,430 points, and Richmond’s Grant Golden, who has 2,041 points but hadn’t yet reached the 2,000-point mark when the Dutchmen played the Spiders on DATE HERE.

NOT BAD TO HAVE IN RESERVE

Zach Cooks and Jalen Ray both serving as reserves will almost surely be a short-term arrangement, so we’d better discuss how unusual it is to have two 1,500-point scorers coming off the bench! Not surprisingly, Saturday marked the first time this season a Division I team’s had two players with 1,500 points come off the bench in the same game.

As of yesterday, just five other teams even HAD two 1,500-point scorers on their roster, and only two of those duos have as many combined points as Cooks and Ray, who enter tonight with 3,584 points. Richmond’s Grant Golden and Jacob Gilyars have combined for 3,836 points while Alabama-Birmingham’s Michael Ertle and Quan Jackson have combined for 3,592 points. The Blazers are scheduled to play Western Kentucky tonight. Hofstra has opposed another team with a tandem of 1,500-point scorers in Arkansas, whose duo of Stanley Umude and JD Notae have combined for 3,416 points.

BIG NUMBERS OFF THE BENCH

With his 19 points Saturday, Zach Cooks became the third player this season to score at least 15 points off the bench for the Dutchmen. Omar Silverio has done it five times while Jalen Ray has done it twice. The Dutchmen last had at least three players score at least 15 points off the bench during the 2017-18 season, when Jalen Ray did it three times and Desure Buie, Eli Pemberton and Matija Radovic had one such effort apiece.

DEUCES TO AARON’S TREY TROUBLES

Aaron Estrada’s unique streak of points without a 3-pointer ended Saturday, when he drained a 3-pointer with 10:42 left in the game. Prior to that, each of Estrada’s previous 26 field goals were of the two-point variety dating back to his previous 3-pointer, which he sank in his final attempt of the game against Towson on Jan. 11. Estrada missed 11 consecutive 3-point attempts while going 26-of-42 from inside the arc against Delaware, Drexel and Northeastern. Estrada’s streak of consecutive 2-point field goals in between 3-pointers was the longest by a Hofstra guard or forward since Loren Stokes hit 35 two-pointers between treys from Jan. 13-20, 2007. 

STILL TWO MORE TO BE NO. 2 IN THREES

Jalen Ray scored just two points in 23 minutes Saturday, his fewest in a game since he was held scoreless in 32 minutes against Towson on Feb. 27, 2020. Ray was 0-for-4 from 3-point land as he remained at 276 career 3-pointers, one behind Justin Wright-Foreman for second place on the all-time Hofstra list. 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.

TWO MORE TO BE NO. 1 IN GAMES

Jalen Ray inched closer to what we all hope is a much more attainable record Saturday, when he played in his 140th game at Hofstra. Ray is one game away from tying Desure Buie for the most games in program history and *does the math* two games away from breaking the record. If all goes according to plan, Ray will have a chance to set the mark Saturday at UNC Wilmington.

OMAR ON THE REBOUND

Omar Silverio set a career-high with eight rebounds Saturday, when he shared the team lead with Aaron Estrada. Silverio, who’d never pulled down more than six rebounds in his first 86 games between Hofstra and Rhode Island, is the 18th player to lead or share the team lead in rebounding since the start of the 2017-18 season.

IYIOLA PULLS THE MINI-LAETTNER

Abayomi Iyiola enjoyed a perfect shooting afternoon Saturday, when he scored nine points and went 3-of-3 from the field and 3-of-3 from the free throw line. He’s the first Hofstra player to have a perfect game shooting from the field and the free throw line (minimum three field goal attempts and three free throw attempts) since Jacquil Taylor scored 18 points while going 7-of-7 from the field and 4-of-4 from the line against Division III Rosemont on Dec. 18, 2022. The previous Hofstra player to have a perfect game against a Division I foe was Darren Payen, who scored 10 points while going 3-of-3 from the field and 3-of-3 from the line against George Washington on Dec. 28, 2013

BURGESS BREAKS THROUGH

Caleb Burgess, who made his third straight start Saturday, scored for the first time since returning to the lineup when he collected five points late in the second half. The last Hofstra player to go scoreless in three straight starts was David Green, who opened his career with a trio of scoreless games from Nov. 29 through Dec. 5, 2020.

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 10-8 overall and 2-4 in the CAA after edging William & Mary, 74-73, on Tuesday night. The win snapped a three-game losing streak for Charleston.

The Dutchmen and Cougars had no common foes in non-league play. In the CAA, both teams have lost to Towson while Hofstra has beaten Delaware and James Madison, each of whom defeated Charleston, and lost to William & Mary.

The Dutchmen, who were picked to finish fifth in the CAA preseason poll, are ranked 110th at KenPom.com. The Cougars, who were picked to finish seventh, are ranked 191st.

According to KenPom.com. the Dutchmen rank second in the CAA in offensive efficiency (109.5) and third in defensive efficiency (103.8). The Cougars rank sixth in offensive efficiency (101.4) and second in defensive efficiency (103.0). Notably, Charleston ranks first in the entire country in adjusted tempo (74.8 possessions per 40 minutes).

Graduate student forward John Meeks, a transfer from Bucknell who hit the game-winning basket in the final seconds Tuesday, leads the Cougars with 15.6 points per game and ranks third in rebounding at 5.1 rebounds per game. Freshman guard Reyne Smith, a native of Australia who already has earned five CAA Rookie of the Week awards, is averaging 13.2 points per game while junior guard Brenden Tucker (11.0 points per game) and graduate student forward Dimitrius Underwood (10.4 points per game) are also scoring in double figures. Underwood, a transfer from Division III Texas-Dallas, is pulling down a team-high 6.8 rebounds per game, followed by graduate student forward Osinachi Smart (5.9 rebounds per game).

KenPom.com predicts an 80-78 win for the Dutchmen. Per the wise guys in Vegas, for entertainment purposes only, the Dutchmen are 2-point favorites. The Dutchmen are 9-8 against the spread this season.

IT’S BEEN SUCH A LONG TIME (part three)

Tonight marks the first time Hofstra has opposed Charleston since Feb. 13. 2020, when the Dutchmen’s march towards the CAA title began kicking into high gear with a wire-to-wire 76-63 win at the Arena. The Cougars were the only CAA team the Dutchmen did not oppose last season.

ALL-TIME VS. COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON

Hofstra is 7-7 against Charleston in a series that began with the Cougars joining the CAA prior to the 2013-14 season. The teams split the season series the last time they opposed one another in 2019-20. Six of the last eight games between the teams have been decided by six points or fewer. 

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

New head coach bias! (Don’t think we used that last year for Mark Byington, who, err, didn’t get the benefit of any doubts from the stripes)

Pat Kelsey almost coached UMass bias! (One of the more notable last-second changes of heart in recent memory)

Knifey spooney bias! (Reyne Smith must have played that back home)

Brett Gardner might end up in Monument Park bias! (A twist on an oldie but goodie)

I'll Be Quirky: Hofstra at Northeastern

Because this is a family-friendly blog and thus we can't show you Howie's post-St. Elsewhere stand-up specials. 

Aaron Estrada struck last in his duel with Xavier Bell Monday afternoon, when Estrada’s fallaway jumper with 48 seconds left provided the last of 23 lead changes and *checks notes* gave the Flying Dutchmen the lead for good in a71-68 instant classic of a win over Drexel. The Dutchmen will (hopefully) look to extend their winning streak to three games this afternoon, when they are slated to open a three-game road trip by visiting Northeastern. Here’s a look back at the win over the Dragons and a look ahead to the Huskies.

THE MOST RECENT GAME SUMMARIZED IN ONE PARAGRAPH

“Mr. Midrange” connected again and again Monday, when Aaron Estrada scored 26 points — once again without the benefit of a 3-pointer — as the Dutchmen outlasted Drexel in a game in which neither team led by more than seven points. Estrada sank three go-ahead or tie-breaking baskets in the second half, including his last two on consecutive Hofstra possessions. In between, Xavier Bell (30 points) hit his fifth go-ahead basket of the half. But Bell turned the ball over with the Dutchmen up 67-66 and Darlinstone Dubar hit two free throws with 16 seconds left. Hempstead native Camren Wynter drove the lane — but didn’t get the foul he was seeking — to pull the Dragons within one point, after which Estrada hit two free throws. Wynter missed a 3-pointer just before the buzzer. Estrada added eight assists and five rebounds in another 40-minute performance while Jalen Ray, coming off the bench again, scored 18 points and hit two of the Dutchmen’s four 3-pointer. Dubar snapped a two-game slump by scoring 15 points while Abayomi Iyiola pulled down nine rebounds.

3 STARS OF THE GAME (vs. Drexel, 1/17)

3: Aaron Estrada

2: Jalen Ray

1: Darlinstone Dubar

SEASON STANDINGS

Aaron Estrada 30

Darlinstone Dubar 23

Jalen Ray 20

Zach Cooks 13

Abayomi Iyiola 10

Omar Silverio 8

Kvonn Cramer 4

WAS THIS A UNICORN SCORE?

No! That makes two in a row. The momentum with these things can be tough to stop, so let’s get back to unicorn score wins, OK? The Dutchmen’s previous previously earned a 71-68 win on Feb. 7, 2009, when they beat Towson in the first home game after Speedy Claxton’s number was retired. That was the second 71-68 win of the 2008-09 season for the Dutchmen, whose first win of the campaign was earned over Western Michigan by that very score on Nov. 15, 2008. 

The Dutchmen have recorded eight unicorn score victories this season. The Dutchmen recorded no unicorn scores last season after recording 13 unicorn scores in 2019-20 and 10 unicorn scores 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 EIGHTEEN GAMES

With Monday’s win, the Dutchmen improved to 11-7, which is tied for the 28th-best start in program history. It’s the second straight season in which the Dutchmen have opened 11-7 since the 2017-18 season but just the sixth time overall in program history. Here is how some notable Hofstra teams have fared through 18 games.

NCAA DIVISION I TOURNAMENT TEAMS

1975-76: 9-9

1976-77: 13-5

1999-2000: 13-5

2000-01: 14-4 (marked fifth win in program-record 18-game winning streak)

2019-20 (IT COUNTS TO US): 13-5 (most recent 13-5 start)

NIT TEAMS

1998-99: 12-6

2004-05: 12-6

2005-06: 14-4 (most recent 14-4 start)

2006-07: 13-5

2015-16: 12-6 (most recent 12-6 start)

2018-19: 15-3 (most recent 15-3 start, win in 18th game marked 12th win in the 16-game winning streak)

NCAA DIVISION II TOURNAMENT TEAMS

1958-59: 13-5

1961-62: 16-2 (most recent 16-2 start)

1962-63: 12-6

1963-64: 15-3

Some other notable 18-game starts:

2016-17: 9-9 (most recent 9-9 start, last time at .500)

2013-14: 6-12 (most recent 6-12 start, Joe Mihalich’s first team)

2012-13: 5-13 (most recent 5-13 start)

2003-04: 8-10 (most recent 8-10 start)

1997-98: 10-8 (most recent 10-8 start)

1995-96: 7-11 (most recent 7-11 start, loss in 18th game was fourth loss of Jay Wright-era record nine-game losing streak)

1994-95: 4-14 (most recent 4-14 start, Jay Wright’s first team)

1993-94: 2-16 (only 2-16 start, worst 18-game start in school history, VBK’s last team)

1987-88: 4-14 (loss in 18th game was ninth loss of program-record 12-game losing streak)

1964-65: 9-9 (last time at .500)

1960-61: 16-2 (first 16-2 start)

1959-60: 17-1 (most recent 17-1 start & Hofstra’s winningest team, percentage-wise; win in 17th game was seventh win of season-ending 13-game winning streak)

1956-57: 9-9 (last time at .500)

1955-56: 17-1 (first 17-1 start, first year of VBK’s first stint)

1938-39: 10-8 (lost season finale)

Hofstra has never been 18-0, 3-15, 1-17 or 0-18 through 18 games.

Two seasons were completed in fewer than 18 games:

1937-38: 10-4 

1936-37: 7-10

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 EIGHTEEN

With Monday’s win, Speedy Claxton improved to 11-7 as head coach. He is the second straight coach to open 11-7 at Hofstra, following Mike Farrelly, and the eighth to post a winning record through 18 games in his first season (or the first season of a second stints). Jack McDonald steered the Dutchmen to a 14-4 start in the first (and only) season of his second stint while Frank Reilly (1947-48) began 12-6 and Butch van Breda Kolff began 17-1 in his first stint (1955-56). Paul Lynner opened 12-6 in 1962-63. Joe Harrington started 10-8 in his lone season in 1979-80 and Mo Cassara opened 12-6 in 2010-11.

AFTER 30 YEARS, FINALLY A SERIES LEAD

With the win Monday, the Dutchmen took a 48-47 lead over Drexel in the all-time series between the schools. Just how long had it been since the Dutchmen led their second-most frequent foe in the all-time series? How about 30 years and five days? The Dutchmen took a 17-16 all-time series lead with a 78-71 win over Drexel in an ECC game (hi Litos) at the PFC on Jan. 12, 1991. But Drexel won the next eight games in the series — which was interrupted for three years when Drexel decided the ECC wasn’t a real thing and went to the North Atlantic Conference — and the Dutchmen didn’t snap the skid until sweeping the series under fourth-year head coach Jay Wright (and second-year point guard Speedy Claxton) in 1997-98. Drexel opened up a 12-game lead in the series following a sweep in 2013-14, but the Dutchmen have won 15 of the last 17 meetings to take that long-awaited lead. Now that’s what I call quirky!

CLOSELY CONTESTED

The Dutchmen and Drexel were never separated by more than seven points Monday, when the Dragons held trio of seven-point leads and the Dutchmen led once by six points. It marked the third time this season the Dutchmen played an entire game in which neither team led by more than seven points. The Dutchmen never led by more than four nor trailed by more than seven in a 69-67 loss to Maryland on Nov. 19 and never led by more than four nor trailed by more than six in a 63-62 loss to William & Mary on Dec. 29. Finally, a win in one of these things.

WHO NEEDS THREES? (Part one)

The Dutchmen went 4-of-16 from 3-point land Monday. The four 3-pointers were the fewest in a win for the Dutchmen since they were 3-of-17 from beyond the arc in a 68-67 win over Delaware on Jan. 17, 2021. Hey! That was exactly one year earlier!

WHO NEEDS THREES? (Part two)

After scoring 30 points without hitting a 3-pointer against Delaware last Saturday, Aaron Estrada scored 26 points without a 3-pointer on Monday. He is the first Hofstra player to score 20 points in back-to-back games without hitting a 3-pointer since Isaac Kante had 23 points against UNC Wilmington and 20 points against Drexel on Feb. 15-20, 2020.

More remarkably, Estrada is the first non-center — in other words, the first Hofstra player who has made, never mind attempted, a 3-pointer in his career — to score 20 points in back-to-back games without hitting a 3-pointer since Loren Stokes, who had three straight such games from Jan. 13-20, 2007. Stokes scored 30 points against Northeastern, 25 points against Towson and 30 points against William & Mary, respectively.

Stokes hit 35 two-point field goals during his streak, a stretch in which he shot 56.8 percent (42-of-74) from inside the arc. Estrada has been even more efficient during his streak, in which he is shooting 63.4 percent (23-of-36) from inside the arc. Estrada’s most recent 3-pointer was his final field goal against Towson on Jan. 11.

THE 20/5/5 CLUB

Aaron Estrada finished with 26 points, five rebounds and eight assists Monday. It marked the third time this season he’s had at least 20 points, five rebounds and five assists in a game. The last Hofstra player with four such games in a season was Desure Buie, who had *checks his math* four 20/5/5 games in 2019-20. Charles Jenkins (2010-11) and Juan’ya Green (2015-16) also had four 20/5/5 games while Justin Wright-Foreman had five 20/5/5 games in each of his final two seasons (2017-18 and 2018-19).

JALEN RAY IS VINNIE JOHNSON (Google it, Crain!)

Jalen Ray continued to thrive off the bench Monday, when he scored 18 points and hit half of the Dutchmen’s four 3-pointer. Ray, who scored 23 points in his first game this season as a reserve last Saturday, is the first Hofstra player to score at least 18 points off the bench in back-to-back games since Justin Wright-Foreman, whose emergence began in earnest from Jan. 2-5, 2017, when he scored 30 points against William & Mary and 25 points against James Madison, respectively.

TWO MORE TO BE NO. 2 IN THREES

OK, maybe *some* people on the Dutchmen still like 3-pointers. His pair of treys Monday increased Jalen Ray’s career total to 276 3-pointers, one behind Justin Wright-Foreman for second place on the all-time Hofstra list. 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.

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.

SCOUTING NORTHEASTERN

The Huskies, under 16th-year head coach Bill Coen, are 6-11 overall and 0-6 in the CAA after falling to Delaware, 82-76, in overtime on Monday night. Three of Northeastern’s CAA losses have been by three points or fewer or in overtime.

A hard-luck season began in the spring for the Huskies when superstar point guard Tyson Walker — known forever in these parts as the guy who might have flipped the 2020 title game result if he was anywhere close to 100 percent healthy — transferred to Michigan State. Highly touted UNC Wilmington transfer Joe Pridgen wasn’t granted immediate eligibility and the Huskies have had just two players — Jahmyl Telfort and Jason Strong — appear in every game this season. 

The Dutchmen and Huskies had two common foes in non-league play. Hofstra beat Duquesne 73-63 and defeated Detroit Mercy 98-84 on Nov. 27 while Northeastern also earned double-digit victories over the Dukes (71-55 on Nov. 19) and Titans (66-56 on Nov. 30), respectively. In the CAA, both teams have lost to William & Mary and Towson while Hofstra has beaten James Madison, Drexel and Delaware, all of whom have defeated Northeastern.

The Dutchmen, who were picked to finish fifth in the CAA preseason poll, are ranked 120th at KenPom.com. The Huskies, who were picked to finish second, are ranked 231st.

According to KenPom.com. the Dutchmen rank second in the CAA in offensive efficiency (109.0) and sixth in defensive efficiency (105.0). The Huskies rank ninth in offensive efficiency (99.3) and fourth in defensive efficiency (104.2).

Redshirt senior guard Shaquille Walters, who missed four games from Dec. 29 through Jan. 11 and has come off the bench in the last two games, leads the Huskies with 13.3 points per game. Telfort, a sophomore guard, ranks just behind Walters with 13.2 points per game while graduate student guard Nikola Djogo is third in scoring at 12.2 points per game and second in rebounding at 5.4 rebounds per game. Redshirt junior forward Chris Doherty is averaging 10.8 points per game and a team-high 9.4 rebounds per game, but he was injured at the end of the loss to Drexel last Saturday In addition, graduate student guard Tyreek Scott-Grayson, who was averaging 12.3 points and 5.3 rebounds in six games, is expected to miss the rest of the season with an injury. 

KenPom.com predicts a 72-70 win for the Dutchmen. Per the wise guys in Vegas, for entertainment purposes only, the Dutchmen are 2 1/2-point favorites. The Dutchmen are 8-8 against the spread this season.

ALL-TIME VS. NORTHEASTERN

Hofstra is 26-25 against Northeastern in a series that began during the 1949-50 season. All but three of the meetings have come in conference play since the 1994-95 season, when Hofstra joined the North Atlantic Conference. The Dutchmen were swept last season in their lone home-and-home of the pandemic season, when Northeastern stormed back from a 19-point deficit to earn an 81-78 overtime win at the Arena on Jan. 7 before the Huskies squandered a 12-point first-half lead before overcoming an eight-point second-half deficit to record a 67-56 victory in Boston two days later. The sweep was the first for Northeastern since since 2014-15.

THE BARONE BOWL

The Barone Bowl was established by me and Northeastern graduate Mike Brodsky during the 2009-10 season, after Northeastern and Hofstra dropped football within two weeks of one another (Hofstra’s decision, of course, was reached after a multi-year study, wink wink nudge nudge).

The Barone Bowl pays homage to the episode of Everybody Loves Raymond in which a Hofstra kicker boots a 68-yard field goal against Northeastern but Frank Barone catches the ball and refuses to give it up. Apparently that wasn’t the type of publicity either school liked. Anyway.

Northeastern leads the Barone Bowl series, 15-12, and regained possession of the trophy with last year’s sweep. I’ll note here again we had it before that because Hofstra swept the 2019-20 regular season series before beating Northeastern in the CAA championship game. Hofstra must sweep the regular season series — and/or win the title game against Northeastern — in order to grab back the Barone Bowl hardware. This, unfortunately, is a purely symbolic trophy, one which you will not find displayed by either school. But you can find me and Brodsky talking about it on Twitter!

THE BARONE BOWL, SPONSORED BY BARBASOL

Not really, but Brodsky and I are always open to talking sponsorship deals! Nineteen of the 35 games Hofstra and Northeastern have played since 2005-06 — when the Huskies joined the CAA — have been decided by six points or fewer or in overtime, including five of the last 10. And two of the four recent games that were decided by a wider margin were the last two CAA title games, both of which were tight contests well into the second half. Included in this current stretch of close finishes are a pair of buzzer-beating wins for the Dutchmen, who beat Northeastern 75-72 on Justin Wright-Foreman’s running 35-footer on Jan. 5, 2019 and 74-72 on Eli Pemberton’s layup on Jan. 9, 2020.

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

Michael Wacha bias! (The former Mets pitcher — really, he pitched for them in 2020 — signed with the Red Sox shortly before the never-ending lockout began)

All of America enjoyed watching that 47-10 beatdown last week bias! (You know)

Jamie Oleksiak bias! (The Seattle Kraken defenseman played cawledge hockey at Northeastern)

Howie Mandel and Denzel Washington got their starts in St. Elsewhere bias! (True stories)