Hempstead, NY- Junior guard Charles Jenkins (Queens, NY) scored a career-high 38 points, including 26 in the second half, and junior guard Nathaniel Lester (Brooklyn, NY) added 18 points and blocked a tying three-point attempt in the closing seconds to lead Hofstra to an 84-80 win over Fairfield in a non-conference matchup Monday night at the Mack Sports Complex.
Jenkins (Queens, NY) notched his fifth career 30-point game, finishing 12-17 from the field and 9-9 on free throws to help Hofstra improve to 4-3. The Pride wrapped up a four-game home stand 3-1. Derek Needham scored a team-high 26 points while Yorel Hawkins and Anthony Johnson each added 22 points for the Stags, which fell to 4-2.
Hofstra shot 53 percent from the field and connected on 6-13 from three-point range. Jenkins' efforts from beyond the arc led the way as the All-American candidate connected on 5-7 three-point shots, setting a new career high in that category as well.
Jenkins set a new scoring career-high at a key time, draining a long-range top-of-the-key three-pointer with the shot clock expiring to put the Pride up, 82-77, with 2:15 left. His previous career-high was a 35-point effort against UNC-Wilmington Feb. 28, 2009, his 20th birthday. It was also the most points for any Hofstra player since Speedy Claxton scored 40 twice in the 1999-2000 season (against Hartford and Maine). The highest total since then was 37 points by Carlos Rivera at James Madison in the regular season finale in 2006-07.
Needham, though, responded back for Fairfield, draining a three-pointer just in front of the visiting bench to cut it to 82-80 with 22.8 seconds left. Freshman Halil Kanacevic (Staten Island, NY) hit the second of two free throws to stretch the lead to three, though Fairfield had a final chance to tie it.
Lester, who scored 10 points in the first half and eight in the second, contributed defensively to thwart the Stags' last offensive chance. Hawkins had possession beyond the three-point line, but lost control of his initial shot as Lester swiped the ball free. Mike Evanovich then batted the ball back to Hawkins again in front of the Stags' bench and tried to hoist another shot, but Lester blocked the attempt. Greg Washington grabbed the loose ball and drew the foul with 1.1 seconds left before hitting the game-clinching free throw to provide the final margin.
Jenkins and Lester each scored in double figures in a high-scoring first half, helping Hofstra head into halftime down just 42-40 despite Fairfield mounting an 11-0 run with seven minutes remaining. Johnson scored 16 points on 7-10 shooting while Needham added 12 before intermission.
Both teams developed an early rhythm in shooting better than 55 percent from the field at the break. Jenkins drilled four of his first six shots while senior forward Miklos Szabo (Szeghalom, Hungary) scored six points in opening seven minutes.
Freshman forward David Imes (Brooklyn, NY) scored two points, making the only shot he took in his collegiate debut. The Brooklyn native, who missed the first six games with an injury, also contributed an assist in six minutes off the bench. Johnson had a double-double in the first half alone for Fairfield, tallying 16 points and 10 rebounds, before finishing the day with 22 points and 12 boards.
Hofstra will open up Colonial Athletic Association play Saturday when it travels to Towson. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m.
