In an electrifying display at CareFirst Arena, Hofstra’s basketball team showcased their dominance over William & Mary in the Coastal Athletic Association quarterfinal. From the very start, the third-seeded Pride kept the sixth-seeded Tribe at bay, clinching a decisive 92-61 victory.
Leading the charge for Hofstra was CAA Player of the Year, Cruz Davis, who contributed an impressive 30 points to the scoreboard. Under the guidance of coach Speedy Claxton, a former backup to Allen Iverson with the Philadelphia 76ers, Hofstra stands as the highest-seeded team in the running for the NCAA Tournament spot granted to the league champion.
For William & Mary, the season might not be over yet, despite their 20-12 record marking them as one of only ten teams in the school’s history to reach the 20-win milestone. Their longstanding quest for an NCAA Tournament appearance continues, as the Tribe’s streak of missing the tournament remains unbroken.
The semifinals are set for Monday night, featuring ninth-seeded Campbell against fourth-seeded Monmouth at 6 p.m., followed by Hofstra taking on seventh-seeded Towson.
Earlier in the day, Campbell eliminated No. 1 UNC Wilmington, while Towson ousted No. 2 College of Charleston, with both matches decided without any last-minute suspense.
Hofstra made sure to avoid becoming another higher seed upset, taking an early lead of 6-0 and 9-2. Although William & Mary managed to close the gap to 15-14, Hofstra pulled away, leading 50-33 at halftime and maintaining a comfortable margin throughout the second half.
Jo’el Emanuel led William & Mary with 16 points and eight rebounds off the bench, while Tunde Vahlberg Fasasi added 12 points. However, the Tribe struggled with shooting, achieving only 35% accuracy (16 of 46).
Hofstra benefited from a well-rounded team effort. German Plotnikov scored 17 points, CAA Rookie of the Year Preston Edmead added 13 points, Biggie Patterson contributed 10 points and 12 rebounds, and Silas Sunday chipped in with seven points and 12 rebounds.
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