Hofstra holds on at the end to defeat Delaware

Hofstra’s 16-point second-half lead had been cut to three with 1:35 left, but the Pride showed the resilience needed to close.

Jacco Fritz found Darlinstone Dubar for an alley-oop dunk to bring the lead to five with 1:13 left. The Pride then put together three straight defensive stops, keeping their two-possession lead over Delaware afloat.

“I got to give credit to Stone for that one,” Fritz said, “because he’s been saying that to me, ‘Just throw it up, throw it up, throw it up.’ ”

Joked Hofstra coach Speedy Claxton: “I don’t get any credit for calling the play?”

The Fritz-Dubar connection accounted for the game’s final points as the Pride escaped with a 76-71 win over the Blue Hens on Saturday at the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex.

Tyler Thomas had 22 points, Dubar added 18 points and nine rebounds and Jaquan Carlos had 10 assists to power Hofstra (8-7, 1-1 CAA).

Fritz finished with a season-best 15 points to go with nine rebounds and two assists. “I think that’s the point where I need to go to consistently,” he said.

Hofstra held a 59-43 lead with 12:39 left and survived a 4:25 scoring drought and a late offensive outburst by Delaware (9-6, 1-1).

The Blue Hens went on an 11-2 run to cut their deficit to 61-54 with 8:21 left. They kept the game within two possessions throughout the final 5:25.

“We had a big lead there, then we let them back in the game,” Claxton said. “But to these kids’ credit, they didn’t hang their heads and they just willed us to victory.”

Hofstra controlled the first half, leading for 17:46. The Pride shot 50% (17-for-34) from the field and hit eight three-pointers in the first 20 minutes.

On a three-pointer from the left corner with 7:20 left in the first half, Dubar became the 41st player in Hofstra history to score 1,000 points.

“Outstanding, man,” Claxton said. “I’m proud of my guy.”

Hofstra had 13 assists — including eight by Carlos — and just three turnovers in the first half. The Pride finished with 19 assists, their fourth-most against a Division I opponent this season.

Carlos’ 10 total assists matched his season high, a mark he also reached in wins over Norfolk State and South Florida.

“[Carlos is] our leader,” Claxton said. “He’s a guy who makes us go. He gets all these guys shots. He hit a couple pull-ups, so I’m proud of him . . . He’s our most important piece.”

Hofstra has played Delaware 102 times, the most of any opponent. Delaware is joining Conference USA in July 2025, and the teams playing twice next season — once on each other’s home floor — is not guaranteed.

Saturday was the lone regular-season meeting between the teams this season. Hofstra leads the all-time series 68-34.

“Sorry to see them go,” Claxton said. “That’s one of the trips that I look forward to.”