Hofstra enjoys blowout win over Old Westbury to snap losing streak
Amar'e Marshall #24 of Hofstra University makes a slam dunk off a fast break in the second half of a NCAA men's basketball game against SUNY Old Westbury at Mack Sports Complex on Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2022. Credit: James Escher
Darlinstone Dubar had just converted a two-handed alley-oop dunk, and the swingman hung on the rim and swayed back-and-forth ever so briefly.
It was a moment that perfectly encapsulated a remarkably fun afternoon for a Hofstra squad that reveled in it.
Indeed, the Pride left the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex having fully enjoyed Thursday's 96-48 blowout win over Old Westbury.
“We’re in a great spot,” Jaquan Carlos said. “Needed this game to get our confidence back.”
Hofstra (7-6) snapped a four-game losing streak that dated to Nov. 30. Entering the late-morning tipoff, the Pride had lost to George Mason (81-77 in overtime), No. 4 Purdue (85-66), UMass (71-56), and South Florida (77-70).
All of which made Division III Old Westbury the ideal opponent for a team that coach Speedy Claxton stressed had played well but was trying to build “good habits.”
Old Westbury (1-8), which began the season by losing six in a row, beat St. Joseph’s (Brooklyn), 76-64, on Dec. 10 but was routed by CCNY, 83-61, two days later.
So it was not necessarily a shocking event that the second game ever between the Long Island schools quickly got out of hand. The Pride started the game with a 23-7 run in the first 5:29 and had a 59-25 advantage at halftime.
Hofstra made 24 field goals on 18 assists in the opening 20 minutes and shot 60% from the field (24-for-40), including 43.5% from three-point range (10-for-23). The Pride limited Old Westbury to 25.7% shooting from the field (9-for-35) and 21.1% from three-point range (4-for-19).
The second half essentially was a replica of the first. Hofstra made shots and gave the Panthers nothing, encapsulated by Bryce Washington blocking what would have been a dunk by Chris Smith with four minutes left in the game.
Zachary Cummings led the Panthers with 20 points.
Dubar scored 23 points, Amar’e Marshall 15, Tyler Thomas 14 and Warren Williams 11. Jaquan Carlos had 13 assists. Claxton made the decision to give Aaron Estrada the day off in order for the CAA’s reigning Player of the Year to rest an injured ankle.
“We’re fine,” Claxton said. “We’re going to go home [and] be with our families for a couple days.”
