Hempstead, NY- Junior guard Charles Jenkins (Queens, NY) poured in 24 points, including an eight-point play on one possession in the opening half, and junior forward Greg Washington (Centereach, NY) tied the school record with 10 blocked shots to key Hofstra's 93-54 wire-to-wire victory over UNC Wilmington in a Colonial Athletic Association matchup Wednesday night at the Mack Sports Complex.
Washington fell two rebounds shy of a triple-double with 14 points, 10 blocks and eight rebounds, while matching the school record for blocks in a single game set by Greg Springfield against New Mexico State in the 1999-2000 season opener. He also now has 170 for his career, needing just eight more to set the school's all-time record, held by David Taylor (1979-83).
In all, five Pride players scored in double figures to improve Hofstra to 10-12 and 3-7 in conference play, the first time Hofstra has had five players in double figures since a 77-66 win over No. 25 George Mason in 2005-06. Hofstra scored a season-high in points in dropping UNC Wilmington to 7-14 and 3-7.
Jenkins scored 16 of Hofstra's 54 first-half points as the Pride took a 54-25 lead at the break, marking the highest scoring first half in the Tom Pecora era (nine seasons). Hofstra did have 56 points in the second half of a 98-78 win over James Madison on Feb. 24, 2007. Senior guard Cornelius Vines (Syracuse, NY) chipped in 15 points, freshman forward Halil Kanacevic (Staten Island, NY) added 14 points and eight rebounds, and freshman guard Chaz Williams (Brooklyn, NY) had 11 points.
Hofstra hit on its first three attempts from three-point range and drained 10 of its opening 16 shots. Jenkins then had a rare eight-point play, as he drove to the rim on a fast break and converted a lay-up as UNC Wilmington's Jeremy Basnight was whistled for an intentional foul. A technical foul was then called on Seahawks coach Benny Moss, and Jenkins hit all four foul shots, then scored inside off the ensuing inbounds pass to complete an eight-point play to make the score 34-9 with 9:16 left in the first half.
The Pride led by as much as 42 in the second half, as Pecora picked up his 146th career victory, moving into a tie with Frank Reilly for the third-most wins in program history. Junior guard Nathaniel Lester (Brooklyn, NY) had nine points as the Pride just missed having six players in double figures for the first time in Pecora's nine seasons. Johnny Wolf was the only UNC Wilmington player in double figures with 14 points.
Hofstra returns home when it hosts Delaware on Saturday afternoon. Tipoff against the Blue Hens is set for 4 p.m.
