There's only one thing to do at a moment like this: Strut.
IT HAS HAPPENED! The miracle march to the NCAA Tournament began Saturday afternoon, when the Flying Dutchmen frittered away almost all of a 15-point first-half lead before turning back a handful of second-half rallies by Delaware to earn a 78-65 win that snapped a six-game losing streak.
And now, for the first time this month a happy recap! (I seriously had to look up the previous winning KIP to remember how it went) For the 16th time in as many CAA games, here’s the postgame boilerplate material in Keep It Perky form. The individual news and news from Saturday’s win and the Stony Brook preview will be posted tomorrow morning. Enjoy! We’ve been waiting for this one for a while.
THE MOST RECENT GAME SUMMARIZED IN ONE PARAGRAPH
Cruz Davis (tied a career high with 28 points), Khalil Farmer (a career-high 19 points) and Eric Parnell (10 points, his most against a Division I foe) combined for 57 points, including 39 in the second half, as the Dutchmen finally ended their six-game losing streak by never trailing in their final scheduled game against Delaware. (If you thought you’d be reading the previous sentence in November, you’re either a liar or should be using your psychic skills for good) Cruz, Farmer and Jean Aranguren combined for nine straight points to start a 23-10 run that extended the Dutchmen’s lead to 32-17 before the familiar end-of-half woes cropped up. Delaware pulled within 34-33 at intermission by mounting a 16-2 run in which the Dutchmen were 1-of-9 from the field with four turnovers. The Blue Hens turned the ball over to open the second half but twice closed within a possession before Farmer hit consecutive 3-pointers to begin a 13-4 run that ended with Davis sinking a 3-pointer to put the Dutchmen up 53-41. Delaware then scored 10 of the next 12 points, after which Farmer and Davis combined for eight straight points. The Blue Hens got within six points four more times, the last at 71-65 with 3:11 left, but Macon Emory missed a 3-pointer and Davis responded with a 3-pointer to begin a game-ending 7-0 run. Davis and Farmer combined to shoot 18-of-33 from the field, including 9-of-15 from 3-point land, while Parnell’s 10 points in 24 minutes matched his total for the entire month entering Saturday. German Plotnikov had his usual glue guy game with eight points, three assists, three steals and two rebounds in 40 minutes. Aranguren had six points and six assists despite playing just 16 minutes while Michael Graham had four points and six rebounds in 18 minutes. He may have had two very important points, as you’ll see shortly!
3 STARS OF THE GAME (vs. Delaware, 2/22)
3: Cruz Davis
2: Khalil Farmer
1: Eric Parnell
SEASON STANDINGS
Jean Aranguren 50
Cruz Davis 41
Michael Graham 23
Jaquan Sanders 15
German Plotnikov 10
KiJan Robinson 9
Khalil Farmer 7
TJ Gadsden 7
Silas Sunday 6
Eric Parnell 3
Joshua DeCady 3
WAS THIS A UNICORN SCORE?
No! But I’m just so happy to be looking these up again that I’m not going to complain. It also helps this was the Dutchmen’s first 78-65 win since way back on Dec. 8, 1962, when they beat Loyola (MD). My parents were barely in high school! And this is an old repeat score but not even close to the oldest of the season. That honor goes to the 49-48 win over Seton Hall, when the Dutchmen won by that score for the first time since the 1945-46 season!
The Dutchmen have recorded six unicorn score victories this season and 59 unicorn score victories since the start of the 2018-19 season, when we first started tracking unicorn scores.
2024-25: Six 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?
We also get to do this again! Michael Graham joined the select club of players with three Keith Hernandezes Saturday afternoon, when he hit the layup that put the Dutchmen ahead for good at 4-2 with 18:39 left in the first half. Graham’s four total points Saturday (he scored again on the Dutchmen’s next trip up the floor) are the fewest of any player who has recorded a Keith Hernandez this season and the fewest since Jacco Fritz’s lone basket accounted for the Keith Hernandez in a 59-56 win over Towson on Feb. 3, 2024. Graham is the second player this season with at least three Keith Hernandezes and the seventh in history (or at least since the 2022-23 season).
Jean Aranguren tie-breaking layup vs. Old Westbury, 11/4/24 (19:47 left 2H)
Silas Sunday go-ahead layup vs. Iona, 11/8/24 (17:49 left 1H)
Jean Aranguren go-ahead layup vs. Seton Hall, 11/13/24 (2:19 left 2H)
Jean Aranguren tie-breaking free throw vs. UMass, 11/16/24 (4:58 left OT)
Cruz Davis tie-breaking layup vs. Rice, 11/29/24 (:59 left OT)
Michael Graham tie-breaking layup vs. Arkansas State, 12/1/24 (:00 left 2H)
Jean Aranguren tie-breaking layup vs. St. Joseph’s, 12/6/24 (19:30 left 1H)
KiJan Robinson go-ahead 3-pointer vs. Norfolk State, 12/9/24 (10:33 left 1H)
Michael Graham tie-breaking layup vs. Northeastern, 1/4/25 (19:14 left 2H)
Jean Aranguren go-ahead nostalgic 3-point play vs. UNC Wilmington, 1/11/25 (:31.1 left 2H)
German Plotnikov tie-breaking layup vs. Delaware, 1/23/25 (15:21 left 1H)
Cruz Davis go-ahead 3-pointer vs. Not Twitter Guy, 1/30/25 (15:20 left 1H)
Michael Graham tie-breaking layup vs. Delaware, 2/22/25 (18:39 left 1H(
SEASON STANDINGS
Jean Aranguren 5
Michael Graham 3
Cruz Davis 2
German Plotnikov 1
KiJan Robinson 1
Silas Sunday 1
ALL-TIME STANDINGS (or at least since the 2022-23 season)
Tyler Thomas 16
Darlinstone Dubar 14
Jean Aranguren 5
Aaron Estrada 4
Michael Graham 3
German Plotnikov 3
Warren Williams 3
Cruz Davis 2
Silas Sunday 2
Jacco Fritz 2
Jaquan Carlos 2
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-NINE GAMES
With Saturday’s much-needed win, the Dutchmen improved to 13-16 this season. This ties the 2024-25 team for the 30th-best record in school history through 29 games…or tied for the eighth-worst record in school history through 29 games. But they won, how are they worse through 29 games than 28 games (because most teams didn’t play 29 games). This is the first time the Dutchmen have opened 13-16 since 2016-17 and just the second time overall in school history. Here is how some notable Hofstra teams have fared through 29 games:
NCAA DIVISION I TOURNAMENT TEAMS
1975-76: 18-11 (win in 29th game came in ECC Tournament championship game, marked sixth win of six-game winning streak and sent the Dutchmen to the NCAAs for the first time as a D-I program)
1976-77: 22-7 (win in 29th game came in ECC Tournament championship game, marked ninth win of nine-game winning streak and sent to the Dutchmen to the NCAAs for the second straight season)
1999-2000: 23-6 (win in 29th game came in America East tournament semifinals)
2000-01: 25-4 (win in 29th game came in America East tournament semifinals and marked 17th win in program-record, single-season 18-game winning streak, only 25-4 start in school history)
2019-20 (IT COUNTS TO US): 22-7 (most recent 22-7 start, win in 29th game clinched tie for the CAA regular season title and was eighth win of eight-game winning streak)
NIT TEAMS
1998-99: 21-8 (win in 29th game came in America East quarterfinals, was final win of season)
2004-05: 21-8 (loss in 29th game came in CAA semifinals)
2005-06: 24-5 (win in 29th game came in the CAA semifinals — THE TONY SKINN GAME — and locked up at least an at-large bid for the Dutchmen, or so we thought THANKS TOC, only 24-5 start in school history)
2006-07: 21-8
2015-16: 21-8
2018-19: 23-6 (most recent 23-6 start, loss in 29th game came in home finale to James Madison, final regular season loss)
NCAA DIVISION II TOURNAMENT TEAMS
1962-63: 23-6 (loss in first round of NCAAs was final loss of season)
1963-64: 23-6 (season ended with first-round loss in NCAAs)
The 1958-59 team, Hofstra’s first to reach the NCAA Tournament, completed its season in 27 games (20-7), while the 1961-62 team, Hofstra’s second to reach the NCAA Tournament, completed its season in 28 games (24-4).
Some other notable 29-game records:
2023-24: 18-11 (most recent 18-11 start)
2021-22: 19-10 (most recent 19-10 start)
2013-14: 8-21 (most recent 8-21 start, Joe Mihalich’s first team)
2012-13: 7-22 (only 7-22 start, win in 29th game was final win for Mo Cassara, worst 29-game record in school history)
2011-12: 9-20 (most recent 9-20 start)
2009-10: 16-13 (only 16-13 start, win in 29th game marked fourth win of seven-game winning streak)
2007-08: 12-17 (only 12-17 start, win in 29th game was final win of season)
2003-04: 14-15 (most recent 14-15 start, season ended w/loss to Old Dominion in CAA quarterfinals)
2002-03: 8-21 (season ended w/loss to UNC Wilmington in CAA quarterfinals)
2001-02: 10-19 (only 10-19 start, loss in 29th game ended regular season and marked eighth loss of Tom Pecora-era record-tying eight-game losing streak)
1997-98: 18-11 (won regular season finale)
1993-94: 9-20 (ECC champs! Beat Northeastern Illinois in 2 OTs to win ECC title in VBK’s final game)
1991-92: 20-9 (season ended w/loss to Towson State in ECC championship and ended nine-game winning streak, only 20-9 start)
1988-89: 14-15 (season ended w/loss in ECC semifinals)
1985-86: 17-12 (only 17-12 start, win in ECC semifinals was final win of season)
1984-85: 14-15 (season ended w/loss in ECC semifinals)
1951-52: 26-3 (won known season finale, best 29-game record in school history)
1950-51: 18-11 (lost season finale)
Hofstra has never been 29-0, 28-1, 27-2, 15-14, 11-18, 6-23, 5-24, 4-25, 3-26, 2-27, 1-28 or 0-29 through 29 games.
Fifty-one seasons were completed in fewer than 29 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)
1946-47 (18-6)
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)
1961-62 (14-14)
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)
1979-80 (14-14)
1980-81 (12-15)
1981-82 (12-16)
1982-83 (18-9)
1983-84 (14-14)
1986-87 (10-18)
1987-88 (6-21)
1989-90 (13-15)
1990-91 (14-14)
1992-93 (9-18)
1994-95 (10-18)
1995-96 (9-18)
1996-97 (12-15)
2020-21 (13-10)
More than half the previous Hofstra seasons were completed by this point.
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 TWENTY-NINE
With Saturday’s win, Speedy Claxton improved to 79-50 (.612) as head coach. That’s the fourth-best known winning percentage for a Hofstra coach through his first 129 games at the helm.
Butch van Breda Kolff I 94-35 (.729, 129th game was the second game of his sixth season in 1960-61)
Frank Reilly 92-37 (.713, 129th game was the 29th and final game of his fifth season in 1951-52)
Paul Lynner 82-47 (.636, 129th game was the 19th game of his fifth season in 1966-67)
SPEEDY CLAXTON 79-50 (.612, 129th game was the 29th game of his fourth season in 2024-25)
Joe Mihalich 67-62 (.519, 129th game was the 28th game of his fourth season in 2016-17)
Dick Berg 66-63 (.512, 129th game was the 19th game of his fifth season in 1984-85)
Roger Gaeckler 66-63 (.512, 129th game was the 27th game of his fifth season in 1976-77)
Butch van Breda Kolff II 65-64 (.504, 129th game was the 15th game of his fifth season in 1992-93)
Tom Pecora 62-67 (.481, 129th game was the ninth game of his sixth season in 2005-06)
Jay Wright 60-69 (.465, 129th game was the 16th game of his fifth season in 1998-99)
Game no. 129 is an active one, though the standings remain the same as they were through game no. 128. Frank Reilly ends his most successful season at the helm with a 26-3 record but no NCAA Tournament berth. I presume Tom O’Connor was involved. Roger Gaeckler stays tied for sixth place with Dick Berg as the ’76-77 Dutchmen continue their march towards a second straight NCAA Tournament berth by beating Lehigh in their ECC Tournament opener. While Butch van Breda Kolff keeps winning in the sixth season of his first stint, VBK II goes over .500 for the final time with a win over Army. And Tom Pecora wins his 129th game at the helm and moves two games ahead of fellow perpetual slacker Jay Wright, who loses his 129th game as head coach. Perpetual slackers!
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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