Hofstra Uses Big Second Half Run To Defeat Blue Hens, 82-77

Saturday, January 15

Hempstead, NY

2:00 PM

University of Delaware

11-6,2-2CAA

Hofstra

10-7,2-2CAA

Delaware

Hofstra

Photo by: Lee Weissman

Hofstra Uses Big Second Half Run To Defeat Blue Hens, 82-77

1/15/2022 4:50:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – Hofstra used a 25-2 second half run to take control and held off the Blue Hens down the stretch as the Pride posted an 82-77 win over Delaware Saturday afternoon at the Mack Sports Complex.

Aaron Estrada scored a career-high 30 points and handed out six assists for Hofstra, while Jalen Ray added 23 points off the bench. The Pride scored 51 points in the second half and converted 19 UD turnovers into 35 points.

Dylan Painter recorded a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Blue Hens, while Andrew Carr also scored 15 points on the day. Jameer Nelson, Jr. contributed 14 points, Ryan Allen and Ebby Asamoah each chipped in 12, and Kevin Anderson handed out eight assists.

Delaware missed its first nine shots from the field as Hofstra took an early 11-1 lead five minutes into the contest. However the Blue Hens answered with a nine-point run, highlighted by Anderson and Allen triples, to pull within a point with 12 minutes left in the half.

The Pride extended the margin back to double figures when Ray knocked down a three-pointer to make it a 26-15 game at the seven-minute mark, but the Blue Hens dominated the rest of the half. Nelson, Jr. and Asamoah answered with consecutive treys, while Anderson connected from deep to give Delaware its first lead of the game at 30-29.

Ray hit two free throws to again bring Hofstra within a point, before Nelson, Jr. converted a layup and Painter hit a free throw to give the Blue Hens a 35-31 advantage at the half.

Early in the second period Asamoah drained a three-pointer before Painter converted a layup as Delaware pushed the margin to 42-33 with 17:47 remaining.

But the Blue Hens then went scoreless over the next four minutes and Hofstra took advantage, exploding for a 12-point spurt to surge back in front 45-42. Carr stopped the run with a layup, but the Pride answered with 13 straight points to go up 58-44 with 10:52 to play.

Delaware was still down double digits before scoring eight consecutive points, including two triples by Asamoah, to close within 68-65 with 4:49 to go. Painter then hit two free throws to make it a one-point game, but Jarrod Simmons hit a layup and Estrada added two free throws to put Hofstra back up five.

Painter knocked down a triple to bring the Blue Hens within a pair, but Ray answered with a three-pointer of his own with two minutes left and the Pride held on from there.

Martin Ingelsby
"You're not going to beat a talented team like Hofstra when you turn the ball over 19 times. We got a little stagnant up nine points, and have to be tougher and not get content with a lead. Estrada and Ray are talented, but we need to dig in and get stops when we need to."

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