Hofstra rallies but falls to Delaware
Hofstra guard Mike Moore drives around Delaware guard Devon Saddler. (Feb. 14, 2012) Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
As has been the case in several games this season, Hofstra found itself in a seemingly insurmountable hole against Delaware Tuesday night. The Pride clawed back to take the lead but the jubilation would be short- lived.
Mike Moore was able to overcome a slow start and finished with 16 points, Nathaniel Lester had 11 points and eight rebounds and Stevie Mejia added 10 points but it was not enough for Hofstra, which lost, 71-57, to Delaware at the Mack Sports Complex.
"I thought we played poorly out of the gate. Didn't have the energy and the focus and the effort we needed to compete tonight," Hofstra coach Mo Cassara said. "But then we found a way to battle all the way back. . . . Miss couple of opportunities to take a lead and get ahead and a couple of easy shots and the wheels kind of come off.
"That's kind of been the story for us all year; six to seven minutes left in the game we've been in every game or ahead and we just can't seem to finish."
Hofstra (8-20, 2-14 Colonial Athletic Association) trailed 49-40 with 11:40 to go and went on a 10-0 run capped by a three-pointer by Moore, which gave the Pride their only lead of the game at 50-49 with 8:02 to play. "I had confidence in the shot even though they weren't falling for me a lot today," said Moore, who added seven rebounds and five assists. "He [Mejia] found me and it went down. I felt the momentum had shifted at the time but . . . we weren't able to close it out."
Jarvis Threatt had 20 points and Jamelle Hagins had 14 points, 18 rebounds and four blocks for Delaware (14-12, 10-6), which went on a 22-7 run to close out the game and sweep the season series with Hofstra.
Hofstra fell behind 17-4 in the first seven minutes. Moore missed five of his first six shots but made three consecutive field goals to tie the score at 28 with 3:16 left in the first half. Delaware then went on a 7-0 run and led 36-32 at halftime.
Hofstra was able to contain Devon Saddler, who came in averaging 18.9 points, to four points on 0-for-6 shooting and four free throws, but Threatt and Hagins were able to pick up the slack for the Blue Hens.
"I think that's the frustrating thing I think as a coach -- our defensive game plan going into every game has been terrific," Cassara said.
