Sorry Charlie but Hofstra beat your favorite team.
Hope you all enjoyed the last non-stressful game of the season! The Flying Dutchmen were already locked into the no. 3 seed Tuesday night, but they still played a bit of a spoiler by overcoming a 10-point first-half deficit to beat Drexel, 62-51, and end any hopes the Dragons had of clinching a double bye.
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 Dragons and a preview of the CAA Tournament opener against the winner of tonight’s second-round game between sixth-seeded William & Mary and 11th-seeded ELO will be posted in the AM. Enjoy!
THE MOST RECENT GAME SUMMARIZED IN ONE PARAGRAPH
Biggie Patterson (16 points, nine rebounds) almost did the whole double-double thing off the bench again and Preston Edmead (19 points, seven rebounds) cemented his case for CAA Rookie of the Year (spoiler alert) for the Dutchmen, who held two short-lived leads in the first half before outscoring Drexel 40-19 over the final 21 minutes. The Dragons, ahem, came out breathing fire as the CAA’s second-worst offensive team was 9-of-17 from 3-point land and scored its first 24 points via the 3-pointer. Victor Panov’s 3-pointer capped a quick 5-0 run for Drexel and gave the Dragons their biggest lead at 32-22 with 1:25 left before Patterson sparked the comeback by scoring the final four points of the half. Panov hit another 3-pointer to put Drexel up 35-28 NICE FOOTBALL SCORE with 18:08 left, but that was the last 3-pointer of the night for the Dragons, who missed their next 10 field goal attempts as the Dutchmen mounted the decisive 21-4 run over a span of eight-plus minutes. The Dutchmen led by as many as 17 before Drexel scored the final six points. Patterson collected 13 points and five rebounds in the final 21 minutes while Edmead had 10 points and six rebounds in the second half. Silas Sunday had five points and nine rebounds and hoisted the coolest shot of the season, a 3-pointer with 2:20 left that rimmed out. So we still haven’t seen a 7-footer hit a 3-pointer for the Dutchmen. Rats. Cruz Davis (eight points, three assists, two rebounds) had another quiet game but added three steals and one block. German Plotnikov finished with six points over 23 minutes in what was (probably) his final Senior Day (or Night).
3 STARS OF THE GAME (vs. Drexel, 3/3)
3: Biggie Patterson
2: Preston Edmead
1: Silas Sunday
SEASON STANDINGS
Cruz Davis 66
Preston Edmead 49
Biggie Patterson 26
German Plotnikov 12
Silas Sunday 10
Joshua DeCady 8
Victory Onuetu 6
Joshua Aaron Reaves 3
Jaeden Roberts 3
A.J. Wills 2
Alex Tsynkevich 1
WAS THIS A UNICORN SCORE?
YES! You’d think a 62-51 victory would have happened back in the pre-shot clock days, but nope! In fact, of the seven of the 11 previous wins to come within two points of a 62-51 final happened in the shot clock era, including the most-recent near-miss, a 63-51 win over Manhattan on Dec. 22, 2019. Quirky! This is the Dutchmen’s third unicorn score victory in the last four games, their most in a four-game span since they had three unicorn score victories during a four-game winning streak from Nov. 20-30, 2023.
This is the Dutchmen’s seventh unicorn score victory of the season.
12/10/25: 92-23 over Old Westbury
12/21/25: 74-66 over Quinnipiac
1/8/26: 78-67 over Towson
2/7/26: 71-49 over Towson
2/19/26: 79-43 over Hampton
2/21/26: 82-68 over Northeastern
3/3/26: 62-51 over Drexel
This is also the Dutchmen’s 67th unicorn score victory since the start of the 2018-19 season, when we first started tracking unicorn scores. We did it! We made it to six-seven this season! The Dutchmen have at least seven unicorn score victories every season since 2018-19 except for 2020-21, when they had none.
2025-26: Seven 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
WHO HAD THE KEITH HERNANDEZ?
Biggie Patterson ended Joshua DeCady’s bid for a record fourth straight Keith Hernandez by slamming home the tie-breaking dunk that gave the Dutchmen the lead for good at 37-35 with 15:27 left in the game. Truly quirky: This is the second straight game in which the Dutchmen took the lead for good at 37-35. Also quirky: This is Patterson’s first Keith Hernandez since Feb. 12, when he also ended Cruz Davis’ streak of three straight Keith Hernandezes. Patterson is the first player to record a Keith Hernandez via a dunk since Darlinstone Dubar on Mar. 10, 2024 and the third senior to record a Keith Hernandez on Senior Day (or Night) since we first started tracking Keith Hernandezes in 2022-23.
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)
Cruz Davis tie-breaking jumper vs. Towson, 2/7/26 (16:21 left 1H)
Biggie Patterson tie-breaking jumper vs. Charleston, 2/12/26 (6:44 left 1H)
Joshua DeCady go-ahead 3-pointer vs. Hampton, 2/19/26 (15:29 left 1H)
Joshua DeCady tie-breaking 3-pointer vs. Northeastern, 2/21/26 (6:00 left 1H)
Joshua DeCady go-ahead 3-pointer vs. Stony Brook, 2/28/26 (17:50 left 2H)
Biggie Patterson tie-breaking dunk vs. Drexel, 3/3/26 (15:27 left 2H)
SEASON STANDINGS
Cruz Davis 6
German Plotnikov 4
Joshua DeCady 3
Preston Edmead 3
A.J. Wills 1
ALL-TIME STANDINGS (or at least since the 2022-23 season)
Tyler Thomas 16
Darlinstone Dubar 14
Cruz Davis 9
German Plotnikov 7
Jean Aranguren 5
Aaron Estrada 4
Biggie Patterson 3
Joshua DeCady 3
Preston Edmead 3
Michael Graham 3
Warren Williams 3
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 THIRTY-ONE GAMES
The Dutchmen improved to 21-10 with Tuesday night’s win. This ties the 2025-26 team for the 10th-best record in school history through 2309 games. This is the first time the Dutchmen have opened 21-10 since 2021-22 and the fourth time overall in program history. The Dutchmen were also 19-10 through 29 games and 20-10 through 30 games for the first time since 2021-22. All four 21-10 starts have come since 2008-09. Here is how some notable Hofstra teams have fared through 31 games:
NCAA DIVISION I TOURNAMENT TEAMS
1999-2000: 24-7 (season ended with an 86-66 loss to Oklahoma State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, only 24-7 start)
2000-01: 26-5 (season ended with a 61-48 loss to UCLA in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, which snapped the program-record, single-season 18-game winning streak, best 31-game record in program history)
2019-20 (IT COUNTS TO US): 23-8 (beat James Madison in regular season finale to clinch second straight CAA regular season title)
The 1975-76 team, Hofstra’s first to reach the NCAA Tournament, completed its season in 30 games (18-12), as did the 1976-77 team (23-7). All four Hofstra teams to reach the NCAA Tournament at the Division II level completed their seasons in 30 games or fewer. The 1958-59 team finished 20-7 while the 1961-62 team ended up 24-4, the 1962-63 team finished 23-7 and the 1963-64 team went 23-6.
NIT TEAMS
1998-99: 22-9 (lost to Drexel in America East semifinals)
2005-06: 25-6 (beat Nebraska, 73-62, in the first round of the NIT)
2006-07: 22-9 (most recent 22-9 start, lost to George Mason—PASS THE BALL TO AGUDIO, GREG—in the CAA quarterfinals)
2015-16: 23-8 (beat Drexel in the CAA quarterfinals)
2018-19: 25-6 (most recent 25-6 start, beat Delaware in regular season finale to clinch the outright CAA regular season title)
2022-23: 23-8 (most recent 23-8 start, win in 31st game marked 11th win of 12-game winning streak that continued into the CAA Tournament)
The 2004-05 NIT team completed its season at 21-9.
Some other notable 31-game records — in fact, all of them!
2025-26: 14-17 (only 14-17 start, beat North Carolina A&T in regular season finale)
2023-24: 19-12 (most recent 19-12 start, lost to Charleston in regular season finale)
2021-22: 21-10 (beat Charleston in regular season finale, last win of season)
2017-18: 19-12 (season ended with a loss to UNC Wilmington in the CAA quarterfinals)
2016-17: 15-16 (only 15-16 start, beat James Madison in regular season finale to get within one game of .500 for the fifth time since falling under .500 for good on Jan. 14, last win of season)
2014-15: 19-12 (lost to James Madison in regular season finale)
2013-14: 9-22 (only 9-22 start, beat James Madison in regular season finale, Joe Mihalich's first season)
2012-13: 7-24 (lost to Towson in regular season finale, worst 31-game record in program history)
2011-12: 10-21 (only 10-21 start, beat UNC Wilmington in regular season finale, last win of season)
2010-11: 21-10 (beat William & Mary in CAA quarterfinals, last win of season)
2009-10: 18-13 (only 18-13 start, beat Georgia State in regular season finale)
2008-09: 21-10 (beat UNC Wilmington in CAA first round, last win of season)
2001-02: 12-19 (only 12-19 start, beat George Mason in CAA quarterfinals, hee hee, last win of season)
1997-98: 19-12 (season ended with loss to Delaware in America East semifinals)
Hofstra has never been 31-0, 30-1, 29-2, 28-3, 27-4, 20-11, 17-14, 16-15, 13-18, 11-20, 8-23, 6-24, 6-25, 5-26, 4-27, 3-28, 2-29, 1-30 or 0-31 through 31 games.
Sixty-six seasons were completed in fewer than 31 games:
1936-37 (7-10)
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)
1950-51 (18-11)
1951-52 (26-3)
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 (24-4)
1962-63 (23-7)
1963-64 (23-6)
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)
1975-76 (18-12)
1976-77 (23-7)
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)
1984-85 (14-15)
1985-86 (17-13)
1986-87 (10-18)
1987-88 (6-21)
1988-89 (14-15)
1989-90 (13-15)
1990-91 (14-14)
1991-92 (20-9)
1992-93 (9-18)
1993-94 (9-20)
1994-95 (10-18)
1995-96 (9-18)
1996-97 (12-15)
2002-03 (8-21)
2003-04 (14-15)
2004-05 (21-9)
2007-08 (12-18)
2020-21 (13-10)
(Well) 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 SIXTY-FOUR
With Tuesday night’s win, Speedy Claxton improved to 102-62 (.622) as head coach. That’s the third-best known winning percentage for a Hofstra coach through his first 164 games at the helm.
Butch van Breda Kolff I 124-40 (.756, 164th game was the 13th game of his seventh season in 1961-62)
Frank Reilly 117-47 (.713, 164th game was the eighth game of his seventh season in 1953-54)
SPEEDY CLAXTON 102-62 (.622, 164th game was the 31st game of his fifth season in 2025-26)
Paul Lynner 99-65 (.604, 164th game was the fourth game of his seventh season in 1968-69)
Joe Mihalich 88-76 (.537, 164th game was the 31st and final game of his fifth season in 2017-18)
Tom Pecora 88-76 (.537, 164th game was the 11th game of his sixth season in 2006-07)
Jay Wright 85-79 (.518, 164th game was the 19th game of his fifth season in 1998-99)
Dick Berg 84-80 (.512, 164th game was the 25th game of his sixth season in 1985-86)
Roger Gaeckler 79-85 (.482, 164th game was the fifth game of his seventh season in 1978-79)
Butch van Breda Kolff II 75-89 (.457, 164th game was the 23rd game of his sixth season in 1993-94)
Speedy Claxton has ties to a spate of notable 164th games in Hofstra basketball history. Claxton remains three wins ahead of Paul Lynner, whose 1968-69 team wins its first game as he inches within one victory of 100. Tom Pecora, who of course recruited Claxton, climbs back into a tie for fifth with Joe Mihalich, whose fifth season ends with Claxton a couple seats down the bench when the third-seeded Dutchmen fall to sixth-seeded UNC Wilmington in the CAA quarterfinals on Mar. 4, 2018. Ahh crap. Jay Wright snaps a tie with Dick Berg for seventh place thanks to…Speedy Claxton, whose putback of Duane Posey’s shot at the buzzer gives the Dutchmen a 78-76 win over Delaware on Jan. 19, 1999. That unleashed the biggest celebration I’d ever seen up to that point at the PFC. And Butch van Breda Kolff is hospitalized due to an irregular heartbeat and misses his home finale on Feb. 22, 1994, when Joe Dunleavy mans the sideline during an 87076 loss to Army. I suspect VBK will be rewarded with a pretty good overall Hofstra finale, though.
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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