Mojica Scores 1,000th Point but Hofstra Edges Drexel, 91-86

Saturday, January 13

Daskalakis Athletic Center

4 p.m.

Drexel University

7-12 (1-5CAA)

Hofstra

11-7 (4-2CAA)

HOFSTRA

DREXEL

Photo by: Greg Carroccio

Mojica Scores 1,000th Point but Hofstra Edges Drexel, 91-86

1/13/2018 5:40:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Philadelphia – Tramaine Isabell scored 25 points and Sammy Mojica added 22, including the 1,000th of his career, but Hofstra edged Drexel, 91-86, at the Daskalakis Athletic Center on Saturday afternoon The Pride (11-7, 4-2 CAA) shot 61 percent from the floor and held off a late
Drexel (7-12, 1-5) rally.

The Dragons trailed by 14 with just 3:37 to go after a Rokas Gustys lay-up put Hofstra ahead 82-68. Drexel responded with a 16-4 run and trimmed the margin to just two when Isabell stole the ball from Justin Wright-Foreman and raced the length of the court for a lay-up. Leading by a score of 86-84, Hofstra's Jalen Ray sank two free throws and after a Mojica missed three, Elim Pemberton made one of two from the line as Hofstra's lead expanded to five with just 23 seconds to go. Kurk Lee drove down for a lay-in, but Pemberton was sent back to the line and sank both free throws, giving the Pride a five-point road win.

Isabell had an efficient 25 points, making nine of his 13 shot attempts. The junior also had five assists and just one turnover. Mojica tied a career-high with 22 points and set a personal high with five steals. He moved into the Drexel top 10 in career three-pointers and steals in the game. Austin Williams chipped in with 15 points and a team-high eight rebounds. Drexel shot 50 percent from the floor and committed just nine turnovers in the game.

Wright-Foreman, who entered the day leading the CAA in scoring with almost 26 points per game, missed just one shot (8-for-9) and finished with 20 points. Rokas Gustys, the second leading rebounder in the CAA, scored 20 and grabbed 16 rebounds. Pemberton added 19 points for the Pride. Hofstra shot a blistering 67 percent over the final 20 minutes.

The teams played a fast-paced first half as the offenses shined for both teams. Drexel raced out to a 7-0 lead but the Pride, after missing its first three shots, rattled off six straight field goals to take the lead. Hofstra led by as many as nine late in the half, but Drexel got a three-pointer and then a three-point play, both by Isabell to slice the lead to three. Pemberton closed the first half scoring with two free throws and the Pride took a 45-40 lead at intermission. Drexel opened the second half with a 8-2 run, capped by a three-pointer by Mojica. With that shot, Mojica became just the 37^th player in Drexel history to score 1,000 points.

The Dragons start a two-game road trip beginning on Thursday night at Towson. Drexel will face the Tigers and then head to Harrisonburg where they meet James Madison. The Dragons are looking forward to avenging last season's losses, as both the Tigers and Dukes swept the season series.