That was a big win for the Dutchmen last night...because of the CAA Tournament tiebreaker implications.
East Coast Conference champions, baby! The Flying Dutchmen seized the gap at the top of the ECC standings and locked up the most important title in American sports last night, when they mounted a second half surge and pulled away from Drexel in a nice 69-57 win. Oh, and in secondary matters, the Dutchmen are also now in third place in the CAA and well-positioned for a double bye in the conference tournament in a couple weeks as they get ready for Saturday’s home finale against Not Twitter Guy. Whatever, that’s boring. Make sure to stop by in the morning for the in-depth Quirky breakdown of the win over Drexel and a look ahead to the Phoenix, but in the meantime, here’s the boilerplate postgame material (plus some bonus ECC content) in the postgame Keep It Perky!
THE MOST RECENT GAME SUMMARIZED IN ONE PARAGRAPH
Tyler Thomas (28 points) remained red-hot with 14 points in each half and Darlinstone Dubar keyed the 16-0 run that turned a nail-biter into a comfortable win as the Dutchmen maintained control of their destiny in the race for a double bye in the CAA Tournament. Thomas scored 12 points in a game-opening 20-12 run by the Dutchmen before Drexel responded with 11 straight points. The two teams were separated by four points or fewer for 14-plus minutes before a dunk by Silas Sunday and a jumper by Dubar closed out a 6-0 run that extended the Dutchmen’s lead to 41-34 with 14:26 left. The Dragons then scored nine straight points and took a 43-41 lead on a pair of free throws by Yame Butler with 10:47 remaining, But Jacco Fritz responded with a jumper to begin the stretch of 16 unanswered points over four-plus minutes for the Dutchmen, who forced Drexel to commit five turnovers during the run. Dubar’s nostalgic 3-point play gave the Dutchmen their biggest lead at 57-43, after which Drexel scored six straight points during a span in which the Dutchmen went 0-for-5 with one turnover. But Thomas sank a 3-pointer with 2:56 left and Fritz dunked on the next possession. Drexel closed within single digits once more on a long 3-pointer by 40-and-over rec league lookalike Luke House before Thomas iced the win by going 4-for-4 from the free throw line in the final minute. Thomas added a career-high five steals and also had three rebounds and three assists. Jaquan Carlos (eight points with a team-high 10 rebounds and five assists) had another Loren Stokes-esque stat stuff of a game. Dubar scored 11 of his 13 points in the second half and finished with seven rebounds. Silas Sunday continued his emergence with eight points and four rebounds in 14 effective minutes while Fritz collected eight points and three rebounds.
3 STARS OF THE GAME (vs. Drexel, 2/22)
3: Tyler Thomas
2: Jaquan Carlos
1: Darlinstone Dubar
SEASON STANDINGS
Tyler Thomas 57
Darlinstone Dubar 49
Jaquan Carlos 30
Jacco Fritz 12
German Plotnikov 10
Bryce Washington 6
Silas Sunday 2
KiJan Robinson 2
WAS THIS A UNICORN SCORE?
No! The Dutchmen earned their previous 69-57 win a mere 28 years and two days earlier on Feb, 20, 1996, when they beat Fordham at Madison Square Garden. That was the final Hofstra men’s basketball victory of my undergrad years! Also, in a truly quirky thing, the Dutchmen have recorded four wins by a 69-57 final, the last three of which have all occurred within a four-day span in February. The Dutchmen beat Stony Brook 69-57 on Feb. 19, 1974. (The first 69-57 win was over Pratt Institute on Dec. 11, 1946)
The Dutchmen have earned six unicorn score victories this season after recording 13 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?
Tyler Thomas, who opened the month with the latest Keith Hernandez on record and then recorded the earliest Keith Hernandez of his career against Northeastern last Saturday, split the difference Thursday, when he hit the tie-breaking 3-pointer to put the Dutchmen ahead for good at 46-43 with 9:43 left in the game. Thomas, the all-time leader in Keith Hernandezes (well, at least since last season), is now tied with Darlinstone Dubar in this season’s Keith Hernandez standings.
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 2H)
Darlinstone Dubar go-ahead jumper vs. Stony Brook, 1/22/24 (6:52 left 2H)
Darlinstone Dubar tie-breaking layup vs. William & Mary, 1/25/24 (19:47 left 1H)
Tyler Thomas go-ahead jumper vs. Stony Brook, 2/1/24 (:0.4 left 2H)
Jacco Fritz tie-breaking layup vs. Towson, 2/3/24 (2:16 left 2H)
Silas Sunday tie-breaking layup vs. Hampton, 2/8/24 (3:48 left 2H)
Darlinstone Dubar tie-breaking 3-pointer vs. North Carolina A&T, 2/10/24 (17:16 left 1H)
Tyler Thomas tie-breaking layup vs. Northeastern, 2/17/24 (18:08 left 1H)
Tyler Thomas tie-breaking 3-pointer vs. Drexel, 2/22/24 (9:43 left 2H)
SEASON STANDINGS
Tyler Thomas 6
Darlinstone Dubar 6
Jacco Fritz 2
Silas Sunday 1
Bryce Washington 1
Jaquan Carlos 1
ALL-TIME STANDINGS (or at least since last season)
Tyler Thomas 16
Darlinstone Dubar 11
Aaron Estrada 4
Warren Williams 3
Jacco Fritz 2
Jaquan Carlos 2
German Plotnikov 2
Silas Sunday 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-EIGHT GAMES
With Thursday’s win, the Dutchmen improved to 17-11. This ties the 2023-24 team for the 21st-best record in school history through 28 games. This is the first time the Dutchmen have opened 17-11 since 2017-18 and just the fourth time overall in school history. The Dutchmen were also 14-10 after 24 games, 15-10 after 25 games, 15-11 after 26 games and 16-11 after 27 games for the fourth time overall and the first time since 2017-18. That’s pretty quirky! Here is how some notable Hofstra teams have fared through 28 games:
NCAA DIVISION I TOURNAMENT TEAMS
1975-76: 17-11 (win in 28th game came in ECC Tournament semifinal and marked fifth win of six-game winning streak that carried Dutchmen into the NCAAs)
1976-77: 22-6 (win in 28th game came in ECC Tournament semifinal and marked eighth win of nine-game winning streak that carried Dutchmen into the NCAAs)
1999-2000: 22-6 (win in 28th game came in America East tournament quarterfinals, most recent 22-6 start)
2000-01: 24-4 (win in 28th game came in America East tournament quarterfinals and marked 16th win in program-record, single-season 18-game winning streak, tied for best 28-game record)
2019-20 (IT COUNTS TO US): 21-7 (most recent 21-7 start, win in 28th game was seventh win of eight-game winning streak)
NIT TEAMS
1998-99: 20-8
2004-05: 21-7 (win in 28th game came in CAA quarterfinals and was final win of the season)
2005-06: 23-5 (first 23-5 start, win in 28th game came in CAA quarterfinals)
2006-07: 20-8
2015-16: 20-8
2018-19: 23-5 (most recent 23-5 start)
2022-23: 20-8 (most recent 20-8 start, win in 28th game marked eighth win of 12-game winning streak that continued into the CAA Tournament)
NCAA DIVISION II TOURNAMENT TEAMS
1961-62: 24-4 (tied for best 28-game record, season ended with second-round loss in NCAAs, final game of VBK’s first stint)
1962-63: 22-6 (win in Middle Atlantic Championships sent Hofstra to NCAAs, was final win of 11-game winning streak)
1963-64: 23-5 (win in Middle Atlantic Championships sent Hofstra to NCAAs, final win of season)
The 1958-59 team, Hofstra’s first to reach the NCAA Tournament, completed its season in 27 games (20-7).
Some other notable 28-game records:
2021-22: 19-9 (most recent 19-9 start)
2016-17: 13-15 (most recent 13-15 start)
2014-15: 18-10 (most recent 18-10 start)
2013-14: 8-20 (most recent 8-20 start, Joe Mihalich’s first team)
2012-13: 6-22 (only 6-22 start, worst 28-game record in school history)
2009-10: 15-13 (only 15-13 start)
2007-08: 11-17 (only 11-17 start, Antoine Agudio broke Steve Nisenson’s career scoring record in 28th game against Delaware)
2003-04: 14-14 (most recent 14-14 start, win in regular season finale was final win, last time at .500)
2002-03: 8-20 (win in CAA tournament quarterfinals was final win)
2001-02: 10-18 (most recent 10-18 start, loss in 28th game marked seventh loss of Tom Pecora-era record-tying eight-game losing streak)
1994-95: 10-18 (season ended w/loss to Drexel in NAC quarterfinals, Jay Wright’s first year)
1993-94: 8-20 (beat Troy State in ECC semifinals, VBK’s last year)
1991-92: 20-8 (won ECC semifinal for final win of season and final win of nine-game winning streak that ended in ECC title game)
1990-91: 14-14 (season ended w/loss in ECC quarterfinals)
1989-90: 13-15 (season ended w/loss in ECC quarterfinals)
1988-89: 14-14 (win in ECC quarterfinals was final win of season, last time at .500)
1986-87: 10-18 (season ended w/loss in ECC quarterfinals)
1985-86: 16-12 (only 16-12 start, won ECC quarterfinals)
1984-85: 14-14 (win in ECC quarterfinals was final win of season, last time at .500)
1983-84: 14-14 (season ended w/loss in ECC quarterfinals)
1981-82: 12-16 (only 12-16 start, season ended w/loss in ECC quarterfinals)
1979-80: 14-14 (lost season finale, final game for Joe Harrington)
1950-51: 18-10 (win in 28th game was final win of season and last win of six-game winning streak)
Hofstra has never been 28-0, 27-1, 26-2, 25-3, 9-19, 7-21, 5-23, 4-24, 3-25, 2-26, 1-27 or 0-28 through 28 games.
Forty-two seasons were completed in fewer than 28 games:
1936-37 (10-7)
1937-38 (10-4)
1938-39 (10-8)
1939-40 (12-9)
1940-41 (13-7)
1941-42 (15-6)
1942-43 (15-6)
1943-44 (7-12)
1944-45 (8-13)
1945-46 (12-7)
1947-48 (13-6)
1948-49 (18-8)
1949-50 (17-9)
1952-53 (20-7)
1953-54 (15-9)
1954-55 (19-7)
1955-56 (22-4)
1956-57 (11-15)
1957-58 (15-8)
1958-59 (20-7)
1959-60 (23-1)
1960-61 (21-4)
1964-65 (11-14)
1965-66 (16-10)
1966-67 (12-13)
1967-68 (13-12)
1968-69 (12-13)
1969-70 (13-13)
1970-71 (18-8)
1971-72 (11-14)
1972-73 (8-16)
1973-74 (8-16)
1974-75 (11-13)
1977-78 (8-19)
1978-79 (8-19)
1980-81 (12-15)
1982-83 (18-9)
1987-88 (6-21)
1992-93 (9-18)
1995-96 (9-18)
1996-97 (12-15)
2020-21 (13-10)
Game no. 28 marks the final time in which fewer than half the previous Hofstra seasons were already completed. And just barely!
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 NINETY-FIVE
With Thursday’s win, Speedy Claxton improved to 63-32 (.663) as head coach. That’s tied for the best known winning percentage for a Hofstra coach through his first 95 games at the helm.
Paul Lynner 63-32 (.663, 95th game was the 11th game of his fourth season in 1965-66)
Butch van Breda Kolff I 63-32 (.663, 95th game was the 20th game of his fourth season in 1958-59)
SPEEDY CLAXTON 63-32 (.663, 95th game was the 28th game of his third season in 2023-24)
Frank Reilly 62-33 (.653, 95th game was the 24th game of his fourth season in 1950-51)
Joe Mihalich 50-45 (.526, 95th game was the 28th game of his third season in 2015-16)
Dick Berg 47-48 (.495, 95th game was the 13th game of his fourth season in 1983-84)
Butch van Breda Kolff II 45-50 (.474, 95th game was the 10th game of his fourth season in 1991-92)
Roger Gaeckler 39-56 (.411, 95th game was the 23rd game of his fourth season in 1975-76)
Jay Wright 39-56 (.411, 95th game was the 13th game of his fourth season in 1997-98)
Tom Pecora 39-56 (.411, 94th game was the fifth game of his fourth season in 2004-05)
Mo Cassara 38-57 (.400, 95th game was the 30th game of his third season in 2012-13)
The top four remains the same as Paul Lynner, Butch van Breda Kolff I and Speedy Claxton all win their 95th games to stay tied for first and Frank Reilly wins his 95th game to remain a game behind. Roger Gaeckler, Jay Wright and Tom Pecora all win game no. 95 to snap the four-way tie with Mo Cassara.
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!
Smith finished 27-32 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.
ECC CHAMPS!
Tomorrow’s I’ll Be Quirky will be loaded enough as it is with the facts from Thursday’s game as well as a preview of the game against Not Twitter Guy and the usual historic look at Senior Day, so I wanted to give the ECC championship breakdown its space here today. It doesn’t hurt the Dutchmen have more mythical ECC champions than anyone since 1995-96, when Towson joined the North Atlantic Conference and reunited with Hofstra, Delaware and Drexel!
With Thursday’s win, the Dutchmen locked up this year’s ECC title, which has to be settled by winning percentage because of the dreadful balanced schedule. At least that makes a tie less likely? Drexel and Delaware are slated to play the final regular season game of the ECC slate on Monday night.
HOFSTRA 3-1 .750
Drexel 2-2 .500
Towson 2-2 .500
Delaware 1-3 .250
This is the seventh time in the last nine years Hofstra has earned at least a share of the ECC title and the ECC-best 13th time the Flying Dutchmen have won or shared the crown in the last 28 full seasons (I’m not counting the pandemic-wracked 2020-21 campaign, when Hofstra was the only school to play more than two games against ECC foes).
The only other school to win the ECC in the last 11 years is Towson, which won the title outright in 2012-13, 2013-14, 2016-17 and 2021-22 and shared the championship with the Dutchmen in 2019-20. The Tigers have six titles overall, ranking behind Drexel (10, but none since 2011-12) and ahead of Delaware (which a shockingly low three and NONE in the CAA era). We’re number one! We’re number one!
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