Hofstra Pulls Away from the Dragons Saturday Evening, 88-76

Saturday, February 17

Hempstead, N.Y.

4 p.m.

Drexel University

11-18 (5-11CAA)

Hofstra

17-11 (10-6CAA)

Drexel

Hofstra

Photo by: Greg Carroccio

Hofstra Pulls Away from the Dragons Saturday Evening, 88-76

2/17/2018 6:11:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Hempstead, N.Y. – Tramaine Isabell poured in 29 points, but Hofstra's big second half propelled the Pride past the Dragons on Saturday afternoon at the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex. Drexel fell to 5-11 in league play and 11-17 overall.

The Pride (17-11, 10-6 CAA) trailed by two at the half but began the final frame by scoring eight straight points to take the lead for good. Desure Buie had five of those eight points, the final two coming on a steal and a lay-in to give the Pride a 40-34 advantage. A few minutes later, Hofstra went on a 10-1 run to make it a 15-point lead. The Dragons chipped away at the lead over the next 10 minutes and made it a 69-66 game with 5:03 remaining on an Isabell jumper. However, Justin Wright-Foreman got hot down the stretch. He scored 10 of his game-high 32 points in the final four minutes. The Pride, after making just nine of its 25 free throws in the game, went 9-for-10 from the line during that stretch to seal the victory. Hofstra was extremely efficient shooting in the second half, making 63 percent from the field in the half, and 53 percent in the game.

The teams played an evenly contested first half and the Dragons went to the break ahead, 34-32. Drexel opened the game on a 9-2 run but Hofstra answered with a run of its own to take a brief lead. Isabell was outstanding in the first half, winding his way through traffic and getting to the rim with ease. He had 13 points and was 6-for-11 from the floor. The defense held the high-powered Hofstra offense in check, although the Pride didn't help itself by making just four of its 11 free throws.

Isabell finished the day 12-for-22 from the floor. He also had three three-pointers and grabbed six rebounds. Kurk Lee and Troy Harper each finished with 11 points. Alihan Demir snared a team-high nine rebounds and handed out a team-best five assists.

Eli Pemberton and Rokas Gustys each had double-doubles. Pemberton scored 16 points and had 10 boards, while Gustys finished with 10 points and 17 rebounds. The big man missed all eight of his free throws as the Dragons sent him to the line on numerous occasions in the second half trying to get back in the game.