Hofstra falls to ODU in CAA semifinals

RICHMOND, Va. - Greg Washington found foul trouble early and Charles Jenkins was shut down by a defense that flustered him, but for the entire second half, Hofstra kept Old Dominion within striking range.

It just couldn't get any closer.

The second-seeded Monarchs prevailed, 77-69, Sunday afternoon in a CAA Tournament semifinal at Richmond Coliseum. Third-seeded Hofstra (21-11) never fell behind by more than 11 points in the second half but never got closer than six, either. The Pride couldn't get the stops it needed as Old Dominion (26-6) shot 28-for-49 (57 percent) from the field for the game.

Old Dominion will face fourth-seeded Virginia Commonwealth - which upset top-seeded George Mason in the first semifinal, 79-63 - Monday night in the CAA championship game.

The loss ended any hope of Hofstra getting invited to the NCAA Tournament, but coach Mo Cassara thinks the team has a strong case for an NIT bid.

"I think we're in position to do that. Whether it happens or not, that's really out of our hands now," he said. "I'd like to think that in some way, we'll be playing postseason basketball."

The College Basketball Invitational and Collegeinsider.com tournaments also could be options.

It was an off game for two-time CAA player of the year Jenkins, who needed only 17 points to become the 61st Division I player to score 2,500 - and got 16. Jenkins, now averaging 22.9 points, drew the full attention of the Monarchs, who held him to 6-for-16 shooting for the second time this season.

Jenkins said ODU worked to keep him from driving to the basket. "I found myself in a situation where I had to shoot over very high hands, and that was a bit uncomfortable for me," he said. "I didn't trust my midrange jumper as much as I should have."

The Pride also couldn't lean on the 6-10 Washington, who was needed to neutralize a tall Old Dominion lineup. Washington shot 5-for-6 from the field and scored 11 points in 19 minutes, but he picked up his fourth foul three minutes into the second half and fouled out with a minute left.

"The games we've played well in, Greg Washington has been able to stay on the court," Cassara said.

All five Hofstra starters scored in double digits, as Mike Moore had 12, David Imes 11 and Brad Kelleher 10. Kelleher and Jenkins had six assists each and Moore five as the Pride had 19 assists on 25 baskets. Hofstra committed only five turnovers after making two in the semifinal win over William & Mary.

But the Pride still couldn't stop Old Dominion. Frank Hassell had 22 points, Darius James 16, Kent Bazemore 11 and Keyon Carter 10 for the Monarchs. Hassell, James and Bazemore totaled 18-for-25 shooting.

Hofstra had the support of a few hundred students and supporters, including the baseball team, which dropped by after a game elsewhere in Virginia was rained out.

Hofstra has reached the CAA final only once in 10 years and has been eliminated in the semis three times. The Pride now waits for a call from a postseason tournament, with Cassara calling that a "bittersweet" fate after playing well under the circumstances but falling short.

"Across the board, we were right there," he said. "We felt we were really close. We just couldn't get over the hump."