HEMPSTEAD, New York (Feb. 8) -- Junior forward Adam Hess scored 29 points and freshman guard Brett Howell came off the bench to score a career-high 18 as the William & Mary men's basketball team overcame an early 22-8 deficit to defeat Hofstra, 79-69, on Saturday afternoon at Hofstra Arena.

The loss was the third in the row for the Pride, which slips to 5-16 overall and 4-8 in the Colonial Athletic Association. William & Mary, meanwhile, captured its third straight win and fourth in its last five games to improve to 10-10 overall and 5-6 in the league. The Pride lost despite putting all five starters in double-figures for the first time since the opening game of the 2000-01 season against Northern Illinois (an 81-57 win). Sophomore swingman Michael Radziejewski led the way with 15 points, but suffered an injured knee with 7:05 left in regulation and is scheduled to undergo an MRI tomorrow to determine the extent of the injury.

Hofstra stormed out of the gate early to a 22-8 lead and led 34-23 with 4:30 left in the half on a three-pointer from freshman guard Anthony Noble. However, the Tribe closed out the half on a 14-1 run to take a 37-35 lead into halftime on a buzzer-beating jumper from senior guard Sherman Rivers. Howell had eight of William & Mary's points during that run.

The Pride managed to get the lead back at 50-47 with 14:10 left on a conventional three-point play from sophomore forward Kenny Adeleke. The score was tied at 57-57, when Hess converted on a three-point play and a lay-up (which came while Radziejewski was injured) to give the Tribe the lead for good at 62-57 with 7:05 remaining. A Noble three cut the lead back down to 62-60, and after the teams exchanged baskets, Hess scored four straight points to give the Tribe a 68-62 lead.

Senior guard Rick Apodaca responded with a three-pointer with 3:39 left, but Howell answered right back with a three of his own from the top of the key as the shot clock was winding down to stretch the lead back up to six. An Adeleke tip-in pulled the Pride within 71-67 with 1:57 left, but center Adam Duggins hit a short jump shot to push the lead back up to 73-67 with 1:21 left and the Pride was unable to threaten thereafter.

Joining Radziejewski in double figures for Hofstra were Adeleke (14), Apodaca (13), Gibson (11) and Souffrant (10). Duggins and Rivers were also in double figures with 10 points apiece for William & Mary, which outrebounded Hofstra, 36-27, becoming just the fourth team to hold the rebounding edge against the Pride this season. The Tribe also held a big edge at the free throw line, shooting 19-27, compared to Hofstra's 5-7.

Hofstra will next be in action when it travels to George Mason on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. That game will be televised locally by the Madison Square Garden Network.