Sophomore guard Charles Jenkins (Queens, NY - pictured) had 21 points, including two key foul shots in the final minute, as the Hofstra Men's Basketball team earned its seventh straight win by defeating Stony Brook 61-56 on Wednesday evening.
With the win, Hofstra improves to 7-1, picking up its seventh straight win since an opening day loss to Clemson on Nov. 14. The win streak is the longest for the Pride since the 2004-05 team had a seven-game streak that spanned the final six regular season games and the opening round of the CAA Tournament (that team also started the season 9-0).
Hofstra held Stony Brook to just 28.8 percent shooting on the day, the fifth time already this season that it has held its opponents below 35 percent from the floor. Jenkins' 21 points marked the eighth time in eight games this year that he has led the Pride (or tied for the team lead) in scoring.
However, the Pride had to overcome some second-half shooting woes of its own, as it shot just 4-22 after intermission. Hofstra led 37-26 at the break and took its largest lead of 16 points at 42-26 on a fast break lay-up from Jenkins.
Stony Brook got within seven points at 50-43, before junior guard Cornelius Vines (Syracuse, NY) knocked down a three-pointer off a Jenkins feed to strech the lead back to 53-43 with 6:34 to play. The Seawolves scratched as close as three points in the final minute as Chris Martin converted a three-point play with 39 seconds left to make the score 56-53. Jenkins, though, hit two foul shots to stretch the lead up to five, and the Pride was able to hold on down the stretch.
Vines was the only other Pride player in double figures with 13 points. Senior forward Dane Johnson (Brooklyn, NY) contributed to the defensive performance with a season-high six blocked shots, to go along with six points and five rebounds. Demetrius Young led Stony Brook with 21.
Hofstra will next be in action on Saturday when it entertains St. Francis (N.Y.) for a 4 p.m. contest, which will be televised live by MSG+ Network. There will be a pregame ceremony to retire the jersey number (93) of former player Bill Thieben (1953-56).
