I hope the Dorseys don't have this kind of sibling rivalry.
It took another second-half comeback following a fitful first half, but thanks in large part to another monster game from Darlinstone Dubar (30 points, 11 rebounds), Long Island remains the domain of the Flying Dutchmen thanks to Monday night’s 80-74 win over Stony Brook. The Dutchmen will look to continue climb over .500 in the CAA tonight, when they host William & Mary. Fortunately, nothing crazy ever happens against those guys! Here’s a look back at the win over the Seawolves and a look ahead to the Tribe.
THE MOST RECENT GAME SUMMARIZED IN ONE PARAGRAPH
The Dutchmen got off to a fast start, went into a familiar funk and trailed for more than 22 consecutive minutes before ending the game on a 24-15 run. After enduring miserable stretches in their previous three games, the Dutchmen took a 15-4 lead over the first 6:38, a span in which every starter but Tyler Thomas scored. Stony Brook responded by scoring 15 straight points to begin a 22-2 run in which the Dutchmen were 1-of-11 from the field with two turnovers. The Dutchmen began inching back and got within a possession twice down the stretch in the first half before Stony Brook, which led 37-32 at intermission, opened a pair of eight-point leads early in the second. The Dutchmen got within two points four times before scoring eight straight points during a 15-4 run that included the jumper by (spoiler alert!) Darlinstone Dubar putting the visitors ahead for good at 60-59 with 6:52 left. Stony Brook responded with an 8-2 surge to pull within 73-71 with 43 seconds remaining but Jaquan Carlos sandwiched four free throws around an empty possession for the Seawolves and the Dutchmen held on. Dubar became the first Hofstra player with at least 30 points and 10 rebounds in a double-double in 17 years while Carlos scored a career-high 23 points, including 18 in the second half, and added six assists. Tyler Thomas (1-of-6 from 3-point land) continued to struggle from long distance but had 11 points — including the basket that started the 15-4 run — and finished with seven rebounds. German Plotnikov had eight points in 38 minutes.
3 STARS OF THE GAME (vs. Stony Brook, 1/22)
3: Darlinstone Dubar
2: Jaquan Carlos
1: Tyler Thomas
SEASON STANDINGS
Darlinstone Dubar 41
Tyler Thomas 37
Jaquan Carlos 19
Jacco Fritz 8
Bryce Washington 5
KiJan Robinson 2
German Plotnikov 1
Silas Sunday 1
WAS THIS A UNICORN SCORE?
No! But this is just the second 80-74 win in program history and the first since waaaay back on Dec. 2, 1963, when the Flying Dutchmen — who really were called the Flying Dutchmen back then! — went on the road to beat another local rival, Long Island University, by that score. My parents were still in high school and just under a decade away from welcoming me!
The Dutchmen have earned four unicorn score victories this season after recording 12 unicorn score victories last season, 11 unicorn score victories in 2021-22, no unicorn score victories in 2020-21, 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. You may also know it as a “Scorigami,” a term popularized in the NFL.
WHO HAD THE KEITH HERNANDEZ?
Do-everything Darlinstone Dubar took sole possession of the Keith Hernandez lead by hitting the go-ahead jumper that put the Dutchmen ahead 60-59 with 6:52 left. Dubar has four Keith Hernandezes this season, one more than Tyler Thomas.
Darlinstone Dubar go-ahead layup vs. St. Joseph’s (NY), 11/6/23 (14:30 left 1H)
Jaquan Carlos tie-breaking 3-pointer vs. Buffalo, 11/20/23 (19:33 left 1H)
Tyler Thomas tie-breaking free throw vs. Wright State, 11/21/23 (4:16 left 2H)
Darlinstone Dubar tie-breaking jumper vs. High Point, 11/22/23 (4:47 left OT)
Darlinstone Dubar tie-breaking layup vs. South Florida, 11/30/23 (19:42 left 1H)
Jacco Fritz tie-breaking jumper vs. Iona, 12/6/23 (12:37 left 1H)
Tyler Thomas tie-breaking 3-pointer vs. Norfolk State, 12/16/23 (13:45 left 2H)
Tyler Thomas go-ahead 3-pointer vs. Delaware, 1/6/24 (17:46 left 1H)
Bryce Washington go-ahead 3-pointer vs. Hampton, 1/18/24 (5:24 left 1H)
Darlinstone Dubar go-ahead jumper vs. Stony Brook, 1/22/24 (6:52 left 2H)
SEASON STANDINGS
Darlinstone Dubar 4
Tyler Thomas 3
Bryce Washington 1
Jacco Fritz 1
Jaquan Carlos 1
ALL-TIME STANDINGS (or at least since last season)
Tyler Thomas 13
Darlinstone Dubar 9
Aaron Estrada 4
Warren Williams 3
Jaquan Carlos 2
German Plotnikov 2
Bryce Washington 1
Jacco Fritz 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 NINETEEN GAMES
With Monday’s win, the Dutchmen improved to 10-9. This ties the 2023-24 team for the 41st-best record in school history through 19 games. That’s the same spot they were at through 18 games! Quirky! Speaking of quirky, this is the first time the Dutchmen have opened 10-9 since 1990-91 and the seventh time overall in school history. The Dutchmen have been 8-8, 8-9 and 10-9 this season all for the first time since that 1990-91 season in which I was a senior in high school. 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 (most recent 14-5 start)
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 (most recent 16-3 start, marked 13th win in the 16-game winning streak)
2022-23: 12-7 (most recent 12-7 start)
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:
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)
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 (first 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.
More quirky quirkiness: With 10-9 now having been achieved, the only other 19-game record combinations the Dutchmen haven’t experienced this century aside from the above-mentioned records are 18-1, 17-2, 11-8, 4-15 and 3-16.
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.
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 EIGHTY-SIX
With Monday’s win, Speedy Claxton improved to 56-30 (.651) as head coach. That’s the third-best known winning percentage for a Hofstra coach through his first 86 games at the helm.
Frank Reilly 58-28 (.674, 86th game was the 15th game of his fourth season in 1950-51)
Paul Lynner 57-29 (.663, 86th game was the second game of his fourth season in 1965-66)
SPEEDY CLAXTON 56-30 (.651, 86th game was the 19th game of his third season in 2023-24)
Butch van Breda Kolff I 55-31 (.640, 86th game was the 11th game of his fourth season in 1958-59)
Dick Berg 45-41 (.523, 86th game was the fourth game of his fourth season in 1983-84)
Joe Mihalich 43-43 (.500, 86th game was the 19th game of his third season in 2015-16)
Butch van Breda Kolff II 42-44 (.488, 86th game was the first game of his fourth season in 1991-92)
Mo Cassara 36-50 (.419, 86th game was the 21st game of his third season in 2012-13)
Roger Gaeckler 34-52 (.395, 86th game was the 14th game of his fourth season in 1975-76)
Jay Wright 33-53 (.384, 86th game was the fourth game of his fourth season in 1997-98)
Tom Pecora 32-54 (.372, 86th game was the 25th game of his third season in 2003-04)
Some quirky history here as Frank Reilly takes over the top spot for the first time, or at least the first time since I was able to piece together his career record earlier this season. Joe Mihalich also gets to .500 for good while the tiers become clearly established with the top four coaches separated by three games, the next three coaches separated by three games and the bottom four coaches separated by four games.
The records are incomplete for Jack McDonald’s first stint from 1936 through 1943 as well as the tenure of Jack Smith (1943-46). But not Frank Reilly (1947-55) anymore!
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.
HOW MANY TIMES IN A ROW HAVE THE DUTCHMEN WON WHEN TRAILING BY AT LEAST NIIIIINE POINTS?
The Dutchmen didn’t fall into a double-digit hole Monday, but they did trail Stony Brook 26-17 before beginning their comeback. The Dutchmen, of course, trailed Hampton by 18 points last Thursday before storming back to earn an 86-77 victory. This marks the first time the Dutchmen have overcome deficits of at least nine points in consecutive wins since Dec. 28-30, 2019, when they trailed James Madison by 13 points in an 82-76 victory and trailed Towson by 12 points in a 75-67 win.
A SECOND-HALF TEAM (part one)
As you may have surmised by now, the Dutchmen have trailed at the half in each of their last two wins. This is the first time the Dutchmen have overcome halftime deficits in consecutive victories since they won three such games from Jan. 26-Feb. 2, 2023, when they trailed at the half against Not Twitter Guy, Charleston and Towson.
A SECOND-HALF TEAM (part two)
The Dutchmen followed up their 59-point second-half outburst against Hampton by scoring 48 points in the second half Monday. This is the first time the Dutchmen have scored at least 48 points in the second half of consecutive games since Dec. 12-18, 2021, when they scored 53 points in the second half of a 102-51 win over Division III John Jay before scoring 49 points in the second half of an 89-81 win over then-no. 24 Arkansas.
The Dutchmen hadn’t scored at least 48 points in consecutive games against Division I foes since Feb. 9-14, 2019, when they scored 53 points in the second half of a 93-87 win over William & Mary (i.e. the game in which Justin Wright-Foreman tied the school record with 48 points) before scoring 56 points in the second half of a 99-95 win over Charleston.
A SECOND-HALF TEAM (part three)
This goes beyond quirky into wild territory. The Dutchmen have scored 784 points in the second half this season (an average of 41.3 points per second half) after scoring just 647 points in the first half (an average of 34.1 points per first half). I’d have to imagine that’s one of the biggest discrepancies in Division I. (These figures don’t include the nine points the Dutchmen scored in overtime of the 97-92 win over High Point on Nov. 22)
A FAMILIAR HOLE
The Dutchmen have trailed at the half in their last four games, which is not even their longest streak this SEASON. They trailed at the half in five straight games from Dec. 12-30, a span in which they went 1-4.
The Dutchmen have trailed at the half 12 times overall this season, matching their entire total from last season and exceeding their total of 10 halftime deficits in Speedy Claxton’s first season in 2021-22. The Dutchmen are 4-8 when trailing at the half this season after going 7-5 in those games last season and 3-7 in those games in 2021-22
D-STONE THE DOUBLE-DOUBLE MACHINE
This seems like a good place to start breaking down Darlinstone Dubar’s latest big game. Dubar finished with 30 points and 11 rebounds Monday in his third straight double-double and his seventh of the season. He is the first Hofstra player with at least three straight double-doubles since Isaac Kante had four in a row from Dec. 19, 2020-Jan. 3, 2021 and the first Hofstra player with at least seven double-doubles in a season since Kante recorded eight double-doubles during the 2019-20 campaign.
THE 30/10 CLUB
Any double-double is impressive, but by at least one measure, Darlinstone Dubar had the most dominant double-double by a Hofstra player in almost a generation Monday, when he finished with 30 points and 11 rebounds. Dubar is the first Hofstra player to finish with at least 30 points and 10 rebounds in a double-double since Jan. 20, 2007, when Loren Stokes had 30 points and 15 rebounds in a 77-69 win over William & Mary. That was 548 games ago! The only player to have a 30/10 double-double in any combination in between was Charles Jenkins, who finished with 32 points and 13 assists in a 99-96 overtime win over James Madison on Feb. 18, 2009.
D-STONE DEALING
As just noted, Darlinstone Dubar continued his impressive season Monday, when he finished with 30 points and 11 rebounds. Dubar has scored in double figures in all 19 games this season, which is his longest single-season stretch of consecutive double-figure efforts, and in 21 straight games overall dating back to the 88-86 overtime win over Rutgers in the first round of the NIT on Mar. 14.
SECOND HALF D-STONE
Darlinstone Dubar also continued his penchant for performing his best after halftime Monday, when he scored 15 of his 30 points in the second half. Dubar has scored 362 points this season, including 195 in the second half or overtime. Shades of Justin Wright-Foreman’s breakout season in 2016-17.
DUBAR MOVIN’ ON UP
Darlinstone Dubar moved into 35th place on the all-time Hofstra scoring list Monday, when his 30 points increased his career total to 1,096 points and lifted him past Derrick Flowers and Ameen Tanksley. Dubar is 12 points shy of moving past Richie Swartz into 34th place and 33 points away from surpassing Mike Moore for 33rd place.
31.) Nathaniel Lester 1,139
32.) Wandy Williams 1,132
33.) Mike Moore 1,128
34.) Richie Swartz 1,107
35.) DARLINSTONE DUBAR 1,096
36.) Ameen Tanksley 1,090
37.) Derrick Flowers 1,069
38.) Darius Burton 1,060
39.) Percy Johnson 1,045
40.) James Shaffer 1,022
41.) John Irving 1,018
CARLOS IS COOKING (part one)
Jaquan Carlos became the “2” in a 1-2 punch Monday night, when he scored a career-high 23 points while tying a career-high with four 3-pointers and adding a team-high six assists. The 23 points easily surpassed Carlos’ previous single-game best of 19 points, set in the 79-73 overtime loss to UNC Wilmington in the CAA semifinals last Mar. 6. Carlos has hit four 3-pointers in a game three times. He previously had four 3-pointers against Quinnipiac on Nov. 27, 2022 and against Monmouth on Jan. 11, 2023.
CARLOS IS COOKING (part two)
Jaquan Carlos has scored 36 points combined in his last two games, which is the most prolific two-game stretch of his career. He had 34 points last Mar. 5-6 against William & Mary and UNC Wilmington in the CAA Tournament,
TOUGH SLEDDING FOR THOMAS
Jaquan Carlos has emerged just as Tyler Thomas’ slump deepens. Thomas scored 11 points Monday, his second-fewest points of the season, and has 25 points in the last two games, his fewest points over a two-game stretch since he had 24 points against Drexel and Hampton last Feb. 13-16. He is also just 1-of-13 from 3-point land in the last two games, which marks the second time he’s hit one 3-pointer or fewer in a two-game span since arriving at Hofstra. Thomas was a combined 0-for-6 from beyond the arc against Saint Mary’s and Middle Tennessee State from Nov. 19-25, 2022.
SLOW STARTING THOMAS
Tyler Thomas scored just three points in the first half Monday, It marked the second straight game in which he scored three points or fewer in the first half — he had two points against Hampton last Thursday — and only the fourth time he’s been limited to three points or fewer in the first half since arriving at Hofstra. Coincidentally, his first two games also came consecutively from Jan. 14-16, 2023, when Thomas scored two points in the first half against Delaware and three points in the first half against Towson, respectively. He followed that up by scoring nine points in the first half against UNC Wilmington on Jan. 19, 2023, in case you’re looking for trends tonight.
TYLER 1K?
The good news is Tyler Thomas now has a real chance to record his 1,000th point for Hofstra at home! With his 11 points on Monday, Thomas has 990 points for the Dutchmen, which means he needs *does the math, drops the remainder* 10 points to become the 42nd player in school history to score 1,000 points. He has scored in double figures in 42 of his last 44 games and 47 times overall in the last two seasons.
TEN IS THE MAGICAL NUMBER?
And now for a truly Quirky fact: Of the 23 players to join the 1,000-point club in the Defiantly Dutch era, six had 990 points entering the game in which they collected their 1,000th point for Hofstra, including Darlinstone Dubar earlier this season. The others are Carlos Rivera, Nathaniel Lester, Juan’ya Green, Ameen Tanksley and Rokas Gustys.
GERMAN FOR STARTERS
German Plotnikov made his second Hofstra start Monday and set a career-high in minutes for a second straight game by playing 38 minutes. He finished with eight points and has 18 points in the last two games, which is tied for his third-highest two-game total over the last two seasons. Plotnikov had 20 points against Princeton and Iona from Nov. 7-11, 2022 and 22 points against Stony Brook and Northeastern last Feb. 4-8. He also had 18 points against George Washington and San Jose State from Nov. 14-17, 2022.
(NOT) PUTTING ON THE FRITZ
Jacco Fritz’s slump continued Monday when he had six points and three rebounds before fouling out after 19 minutes of action. Fritz has five rebounds or fewer in each of the last four games after recording five reboudns or fewer just six times in the first 15 games of the season.
BRYCE THE GLUE GUY
One of the negative quirky stats fell by the wayside Monday, when the Dutchmen won even though Bryce Washington scored just two points. The Dutchmen improved to 1-8 this season when Washington scores fewer than seven points. They are 9-1 this season when he scores at least seven points.
ONE BASKET IS ENOUGH
Bryce Washington’s two points were the only points scored by a Hofstra reserve Monday night. It was the third time this season reserves have combined for one basket or fewer. KiJan Robinson hit a 3-pointer for the only bench points in an 85-76 win over Wright State on Nov. 21 while no reserves scored in the 73-61 loss to Charleston on Jan. 4.
OVER THE AIR
Today’s game will be carried live on Flo Hoops. For subscription options, click here. Hofstra will also provide a radio feed as well as live stats at the Pride Productions hub.
SCOUTING WILLIAM & MARY
The Tribe, under fifth-year head coach Dane Fischer, is 7-12 this season and 2-4 in CAA play following Saturday’s 76-69 loss to North Carolina A&T. William & Mary has dropped three straight games.
The Dutchmen and Tribe had two common opponents in non-conference play. Both teams lost to George Washington — the Revolutionaries beat the Dutchmen 71-609 on Nov. 14, three days after edging the Tribe 95-89 — while the Dutchmen beat Norfolk State 74-58 on Dec. 16, which was 18 days after the Spartans earned a 96-62 win over William & Mary.
In CAA play, both teams have beaten Hampton and lost to Campbell. The Dutchmen beat Stony Brook, who defeated the Tribe 63-59 on Jan. 13.
The Dutchmen, who were picked to finish fourth in the CAA preseason poll, are ranked 137th at KenPom.com. The Tribe, who were picked to finish eighth, are ranked 323rd.
According to KenPom.com, the Dutchmen rank seventh in the CAA in conference-only offensive efficiency (106.2 points per 100 possessions) and sixth in defensive efficiency (105.3 points per 100 possessions) while averaging 68.9 possessions per 40 minutes, the third-most in the league. The Tribe rank 12th in the CAA in offensive efficiency (100.6 points per 100 possessions) and 11th in defensive efficiency (107.4 per 100 possessions) while averaging 65.8 possessions per 40 minutes, the ninth-most in the league.
Sophomore guard Trey Moss, who spent his first two seasons at South Florida, leads the Tribe with 13.5 points per game. Junior guard Gabe Dorsey, who played his freshman season at Vanderbilt and was a preseason all-CAA honorable mention selection, is averaging 13.1 points per game while sophomore guard Chase Lowe is averaging 12.7 points per game while leading the Tribe in assists at 2.7 assists per game and ranking second in rebounding at 6.1 rebounds per game. Junior Caleb Dorsey, who played the previous three seasons at Penn State and is Gabe’s older brother, is averaging a team-high 6.3 rebounds per game.
KenPom.com predicts an 80-66 win for the Dutchmen. Per the wise guys in Vegas, for entertainment purposes only, the Dutchmen are 13-point favorites. The Dutchmen are 7-11 against the spread this season.
ALL-TIME VS. WILLIAM & MARY
Hofstra is 28-15 against William & Mary in a series that began when the Dutchmen joined the CAA prior to the 2001-02 season. The Dutchmen won both games between the teams last season, when Aaron Estrada and Tyler Thomas scored 20 points apiece in a 75-62 victory in Virginia on Jan. 7, 2023 before the Dutchmen recorded the most lopsided victory in CAA Tournament history by beating the Tribe 94-46 in the quarterfinals on Mar. 5. This marks the second straight year in which the Dutchmen and Tribe are scheduled to play just once in the regular season.
The Hofstra-William & Mary series has lately been one of the CAA’s most exciting and competitive rivalries. Twelve of the last 24 games between the teams have been decided by six points or fewer or in overtime, including back-to-back barnburners in the CAA Tournament in 2015 (shudders) and 2016.
THINGS YOU CAN SHOUT ON TWITTER IF CALLS GO DO NOT GO HOFSTRA’S WAY
Siblings bias! (Not sure if we’ve ever seen two brothers opposing Hofstra on the same team)
Your Dad played for Towson bias! (Stephen Dorsey, Caleb and Gabe’s father, also played for VMI)
Jon Stewart is back on The Daily Show bias! (Easy one there)
Heyyyy little brother bias! (I like to think Caleb says that to Gabe, a la Dan Dorian to J.D. in Scrubs)
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