Anderson’s Buzzer-Beating Layup Lifts Blue Hens Over Hofstra, 73-71, in CAA Thriller

Thursday, January 23

Hempstead, NY

6:30 PM

University of Delaware

14-7,4-4CAA

Hofstra

14-7,5-3CAA

Delaware

Hofstra

Photo by: Phil Hinds, Hofstra Athletics

Anderson’s Buzzer-Beating Layup Lifts Blue Hens Over Hofstra, 73-71, in CAA Thriller

1/23/2020 9:33:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – Kevin Anderson beat the buzzer with a driving layup as Delaware edged Hofstra, 73-71, in a Colonial Athletic Association thriller Thursday night at the Mack Sports Complex.

Justyn Mutts put the Blue Hens up 73-71 on a putback with 18 seconds to play, but Hofstra's Jalen Ray was fouled and knocked down a pair of free throws to tie the game with six seconds on the clock. Anderson then took the inbounds pass, drove down the lane and finished over a Hofstra defender just before the horn as Delaware won its second barnburner in a row.

Mutts was dominant inside, finishing with a career-high 30 points on 14 of 17 shooting from the field. The sophomore also grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds to post his seventh double-double of the year. Anderson finished with 15 points, while Dylan Painter also notched a double-double with 15 points and a career-high 12 boards.

Desure Buie paced Hofstra with 19 points, while Isaac Kante finished with 16 points and nine rebounds.

Delaware connected on seven of its first 11 shots from the field, as an Anderson jumper in the paint gave the Blue Hens a 16-7 lead with 14:16 left in the first half.

However Delaware then went scoreless for over six minutes and the Pride took advantage, scoring 18 consecutive points to go in front 25-16.

The Blue Hens would later answer with a 14-point spurt of their own, taking a 36-30 lead on a three-point play by Painter at the 1:38 mark. Delaware was still up six in the final minute, before Hofstra scored the final five points of the half to pull within 38-37 at the break.

Delaware still led by a point five minutes into the second half before erupting for an eight-point spurt, taking a 54-45 advantage with 12 minutes remaining when Anderson found Collin Goss for a fastbreak layup.

Hofstra rallied back to go up 66-64 with four minutes left, and the game went back and forth from there until Anderson's game-winner.

Martin Ingelsby
"This is a huge win for our program. I really challenged our group to dig in and defend, and we were really tough and physical inside. I can't say enough about our front line. We had a size advantage, and when Justyn is playing like that, he can take our offense to another level. Our guys did a great job executing the last play; we wanted to give Kevin a ball screen to get him momentum going to the hoop. This group is starting to develop cohesion and chemistry, and is having a lot of fun on the court."

Kevin Anderson
"Coach drew up the last play, and I was just able to get to the basket and get a bucket. This is a really big win. We've faced some adversity lately, but to come in here and beat the preseason favorite shows we can beat anybody in the league."