This entire season--for the Dutchmen and the rest of the CAA--is one giant Squishee high and we're not even two-thirds of the way into league play!
Once again, I ask you: Why would you do drugs when you can just watch college basketball? The Flying Dutchmen, who opened CAA play with four straight wins and then dropped five in a row by a combined 19 points, are now back over .500 following their second straight wire-to-wire win, an 80-63 defeat of Northeastern on Thursday night. Alrighty then!
As will hopefully remain the case for the rest of the season however long it lasts, here’s the Keep It Perky featuring the usual postgame boilerplate material. The individual news and notes from the win over the Huskies and a preview of Towson will be posted tomorrow. Enjoy! (Again)
THE MOST RECENT GAME SUMMARIZED IN ONE PARAGRAPH
Preston Edmead (23 points, nine rebounds, eight assists) had arguably the best game by a Hofstra freshman this century and the Dutchmen dominated the boards in a thorough win. The Dutchmen and Northeastern swapped 10-2 runs to open the game before Cruz Davis (spoiler alert!) scored five straight points to begin a 22-6 surge that began with the Dutchmen scoring 10 of the first 12 points. Joshua DeCady, back after a two-game injury absence, had 12 points during the run. The Huskies scored seven of the next nine points to pull within 36-28 before the Dutchmen scored th final five points of the half while forcing a pair of shot clock violations. The Dutchmen led by double digits for the entire second half and took their biggest leads in the final minute. Edmead tied his career-highs in scoring and assists while setting a career-high in rebounding. Davis had 16 points and eight assists, including seven points and five assists in the second half. DeCady finished with 15 points while German Plotnikov (10 points) also got into double figures. The slumping Victory Onuetu pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds, one shy of his season-high, and added six points. Biggie Patterson had six points and seven rebounds for the Dutchmen, who out-rebounded Northeastern 41-24.
3 STARS OF THE GAME (vs. Northeastern, 2/5)
3: Preston Edmead
2: Cruz Davis
1: Joshua DeCady
SEASON STANDINGS
Cruz Davis 54
Preston Edmead 39
Biggie Patterson 15
Joshua DeCady 7
Silas Sunday 7
German Plotnikov 7
Victory Onuetu 6
Joshua Aaron Reaves 3
Jaeden Roberts 3
A.J. Wills 2
Alex Tsynkevich 1
WAS THIS A UNICORN SCORE?
Nope! But it’s the seventh-oldest unicorn score ever! (Or at least since 2018-19) The Dutchmen hadn’t earned an 80-63 win since beating Scranton way back on Feb. 8, 1954. Holy smokes that’s 72 years ago Sunday, way back when my parents were six and five years old, respectively! Super quirky! So is this: The Dutchmen beat Scranton five days after beating Queens 81-49, which is a score that wasn’t repeated again until a victory over North Carolina A&T on Feb. 10, 2024. So much February quirkiness, you gotta love it.
The Dutchmen have recorded three unicorn score victories this season and 63 unicorn score victories since the start of the 2018-19 season, when we first started tracking unicorn scores.
2025-26: Three unicorn scores
2024-25: Seven unicorn scores
2023-24: Seven unicorn scores
2022-23: 12 unicorn scores
2021-22: 11 unicorn scores
2020-21: Zero unicorn scores (really)
2019-20: 13 unicorn scores
2018-19: 10 unicorn scores
The term unicorn score was coined by Mets superfan, historian and blogger Greg Prince to describe a score by which the Mets had never previously won. You may also know it as a “Scorigami,” a term popularized in the NFL.
WHO HAD THE KEITH HERNANDEZ?
I already spoiled it, but Cruz Davis snapped a pair of ties in the Keith Hernandez standings by hitting the tie-breaking 3-pointer that gave the Dutchmen the lead for good at 15-12 with 12:38 left. We forgive you, Cruz, for not letting the game get to 12-12 with 12:12 left. With his second straight Keith Hernandez, Davis broke a tie atop the season standings with German Plotnikov as well as breaking a tie with Plotnikov for third place all-time (or at least since the 2022-23 season). The Dutchmen have now collected the Keith Hernandez via a 3-pointer or nostalgic 3-point play 12 times this season — or every time they went ahead on a field goal. Also quirky: The Dutchmen have yet to collect a Keith Hernandez in the second half. The lone Keith Hernandez recorded after halftime was A.J. Wills’ 3-pointer to open overtime in the 67-64 win over Monmouth on Jan. 10.
German Plotnikov go-ahead 3-pointer vs. Molloy, 11/10/25 (18:47 left 1H)
Preston Edmead go-ahead 3-pointer vs. Bucknell, 11/14/25 (13:30 left 2H)
Biggie Patterson tie-breaking free throw vs. La Salle, 11/28/25 (1:35 left 2H)
Preston Edmead tie-breaking 3-pointer vs. Merrimack, 11/29/25 (15:25 left 1H)
Biggie Patterson tie-breaking 3-pointer vs. Pennsylvania, 11/30/25 (18:03 left 2H)
Cruz Davis tie-breaking 3-pointer vs. Pittsburgh, 12/7/25 (8:38 left 1H)
Cruz Davis tie-breaking free throw vs. Old Westbury, 12/10/25 (19:50 left 1H)
German Plotnikov go-ahead 3-pointer vs. Syracuse, 12/13/25 (:31.9 left 2H)
Cruz Davis nostalgic 3-point play vs. Quinnipiac, 12/21/25 (3:54 left 2H)
Preston Edmead go-ahead 3-pointer vs. Campbell, 12/29/25 (12:05 left 1H)
German Plotnikov tie-breaking 3-pointer vs. Drexel, 1/3/26 (18:27 left 1H)
German Plotnikov go-ahead 3-pointer vs. Towson, 1/8/26 (3:33 left 1H)
A.J. Wills tie-breaking 3-pointer vs. Monmouth, 1/10/26 (4:31 left OT)
Cruz Davis tie-breaking 3-pointer vs. Monmouth, 1/31/26 (19:50 left 1H)
Cruz Davis tie-breaking 3-pointer vs. Northeastern, 2/5/26 (12:38 left 1H)
SEASON STANDINGS
Cruz Davis 5
German Plotnikov 4
Preston Edmead 3
Biggie Patterson 2
A.J. Wills 1
ALL-TIME STANDINGS (or at least since the 2022-23 season)
Tyler Thomas 16
Darlinstone Dubar 14
Cruz Davis 8
German Plotnikov 7
Jean Aranguren 5
Aaron Estrada 4
Preston Edmead 3
Michael Graham 3
Warren Williams 3
Biggie Patterson 2
Silas Sunday 2
Jacco Fritz 2
Jaquan Carlos 2
A.J. Wills 1
Eric Parnell 1
KiJan Robinson 1
Bryce Washington 1
The Keith Hernandez is bestowed upon the player who scores the points that put the Dutchmen ahead for good in a victory. The stat pays homage to Hernandez, the World Series-winning Cardinals and Mets first baseman who had a record 129 game-winning RBIs when the stat was inexplicably discontinued after the 1988 season.
THE FLYING DUTCHMEN AFTER TWENTY-FOUR GAMES
The Dutchmen improved to 15-9 with Thursday night’s win. This ties the 2025-26 team for the 24th-best record in school history through 23 games. This is the first time the Dutchmen have opened 15-9 since 2021-22 and the eighth time overall in program history. Here is how some notable Hofstra teams have fared through 24 games:
NCAA DIVISION I TOURNAMENT TEAMS
1975-76: 13-11 (win in 24th game marked first win of six-game winning streak that carried Dutchmen into the NCAAs)
1976-77: 18-6 (win in 24th game marked fourth win of nine-game winning streak that carried Dutchmen into the NCAAs)
1999-2000: 18-6
2000-01: 20-4 (win in 24th game marked 12th win in program-record 18-game winning streak)
2019-20 (IT COUNTS TO US): 17-7 (most recent 17-7 start)
NIT TEAMS
1998-99: 17-7
2004-05: 17-7
2005-06: 19-5 (most recent 19-5 start)
2006-07: 18-6 (most recent 18-6 start)
2015-16: 16-8
2018-19: 20-4 (most recent 20-4 start)
2022-23: 16-8 (most recent 16-8 start, win in 24th game marked fourth win of 12-game winning streak that continued into the CAA Tournament)
NCAA DIVISION II TOURNAMENT TEAMS
1958-59: 18-6
1961-62: 21-3 (most recent 21-3 start)
1962-63: 18-6 (seventh win of 11-game winning streak)
1963-64: 20-4
Some other notable 24-game records:
2024-25: 12-12 (most recent 12-12 start, last time at .500)
2023-24: 14-10 (most recent 14-10 start)
2016-17: 11-13 (most recent 11-13 start)
2013-14: 7-17 (most recent 7-17 start, Joe Mihalich’s first team)
2012-13: 6-18 (most recent 6-18 start)
2011-12: 8-16 (most recent 8-16 start)
2001-02: 10-14 (most recent 10-14 start, loss in 24th game marked third loss of Tom Pecora-era record-tying eight-game losing streak)
1995-96: 8-16 (win in 24th game snapped Jay Wright-era record nine-game losing streak)
1994-95: 8-16 (Jay Wright’s first year)
1993-94: 6-18 (win in 24th game was final win of regular season, VBK’s last year)
1991-92: 16-8 (win in 24th game was fifth in nine-game winning streak that ended in ECC title game)
1990-91: 13-11 (most recent 13-11 start)
1987-88: 5-19 (only 5-19 start, worst 24-game record in school history)
1986-87: 9-15 (only 9-15 start)
1981-82: 11-13 (loss in 24th game was sixth loss of eight-game losing streak)
1978-79: 8-16 (third loss of season-ending five-game losing streak)
1977-78: 8-16 (final win of season)
1974-75: 11-13 (won season finale)
1973-74: 8-16 (won season finale)
1972-73: 8-16 (lost season finale)
1971-72: 11-13 (third loss of season-ending four-game losing streak)
1970-71: 16-8 (win in 24th game was third win of season-ending five-game winning streak)
1968-69: 11-13 (last loss of season)
1967-68: 12-12 (last loss of season)
1962-63: 18-6 (win in 24th game was seventh win of 11-game winning streak)
1960-61: 21-3 (win in 24th game was final win of season)
1959-60: 23-1 (only 23-1 start & Hofstra’s winningest team, percentage-wise; win in season finale was 13th straight)
1955-56: 21-3 (first 21-3 start)
Hofstra has never been 24-0, 22-2, 4-20, 3-21, 2-22, 1-23 or 0-24 through 24 games.
Thirteen seasons were completed in fewer than 24 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
1957-58: 15-8
2020-21: 13-10
Full records not available for the following seasons: 1936-37, 1941-42, 1942-43.
This feature is inspired by Greg Prince, who measures how the current Mets compare, record-wise, to previous teams through the same point in the season.
NUMBER TEN THROUGH ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-SEVEN
With Saturday afternoon’s win, Speedy Claxton improved to 96-61 (.611) as head coach. That’s the fourth-best known winning percentage for a Hofstra coach through his first 157 games at the helm.
Butch van Breda Kolff I 117-40 (.745, 157th game was the sixth game of his seventh season in 1961-62)
Frank Reilly 113-44 (.720, 157th game was the first game of his seventh season in 1952-53)
Paul Lynner 97-60 (.618, 157th game was the 22nd game of his sixth season in 1967-68)
SPEEDY CLAXTON 96-61 (.611, 157th game was the 24th game of his fifth season in 2025-26)
Joe Mihalich 83-74 (.529, 157th game was the 24th game of his fifth season in 2017-18)
Tom Pecora 82-75 (.522, 157th game was the fourth game of his seventh season in 2005-06)
Jay Wright 80-77 (.510, 157th game was the 12th game of his fifth season in 1998-99)
Dick Berg 79-78 (.503, 157th game was the 18th game of his sixth season in 1985-86)
Roger Gaeckler 76-81 (.484, 157th game was the 25th game of his sixth season in 1977-78)
Butch van Breda Kolff II 72-85 (.459, 157th game was the 16th game of his sixth season in 1993-94)
No movement in the standings following game no. 157, though there’s at least four notable wins. Frank Reilly opens his seventh season with a win over Yale while Dick Berg climbs back over .500. Butch van Breda Kolff’s final team snaps a 10-game losing streak — still the longest of the DD Era — by beating another Ivy League school, Columbia. But that was on Jan 25, 1994, during the final week of Intersession, so I was still in Connecticut being a knucklehead with my hometown friends and have thus not yet seen the Flying Dutchmen win in person. And the 1998-99 team earns its sixth straight win, extending the then-record in the Jay Wright Era.
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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