Long Island college basketball roundup: Jacco Fritz, Tyler Thomas lift Hofstra past Towson
Tyler Thomas of Hofstra, left, gets pressured by Dylan Williamson of Towson during the second half of a NCAA men's basketball game at the Mack Sports Complex on Saturday. Credit: James Escher
Jacco Fritz hit the go-ahead layup with 2:16 to play and Tyler Thomas tacked on a three-pointer with 42 seconds left as host Hofstra turned back Towson, 59-56, on Saturday night.
Thomas had 23 points and nine assists to lead everyone in both categories. The Pride (13-10, 6-4 Coastal Athletic Association) also got 14 points from Darlinstone Dubar, who was 4-for-7 on three-pointers. Thomas was 4-for-8 on threes and had seven rebounds. Hofstra shot 47.8% (11-for-23) on threes.
The Pride held Towson to 30% shooting for the game, including 25% from three-point range. The Tigers (14-9, 7-3) shot only 18.2% (2-for-11) on threes in the second half.
The Pride were outrebounded 42-32 and had only three second-chance points to Towson’s 17.
The teams were tied 28-28 at halftime and Towson eased out to a seven-point lead in the first five minutes of the second half.
But Bryce Washington and Dubar each hit a three-pointer in a 9-2 spurt that tied the score at 40-40.
Thomas then had five points in a 10-2 run that gave Hofstra a 50-42 lead with 7:06 to go. His four-point play with 5:29 to go pushed the lead to nine at 54-45.
Towson’s Nendah Tarke scored five of his 12 points in a 9-0 run to forge another tie at 54-54 with 3:24 to go.
Stony Brook 59, Northeastern 55: Aaron Clarke and Dean Noll each had 14 points and the host Seawolves (12-11, 5-5 CAA) finished the game on a 13-3 run in the final 3:40.
With SBU trailing 52-46, Keenan Fitzsimmons triggered the closing 13-3 run with a jumper and closed it out with two free throws with 15 seconds left.
The Huskies (8-15, 3-7) shot only 1-for-7 down the stretch and 33.9% for the game.
Staff and wire reports