FRESHMEN LEAD THE WAY AGAIN AS PRIDE CRUISES PAST TOWSON

1/7/2010 2:00:00 AM

Hempstead, NY - Freshman forward Halil Kanacevic (Staten Island, NY) had a career-high 18 points, to go along with 10 rebounds and five blocked shots, and freshman guard Chaz Williams (Brooklyn, NY) added 16 points, including 4-4 shooting from three-point territory, as the Hofstra Men's Basketball team defeated Towson 77-61 on Wednesday evening at the Mack Sports Complex.

With the win, Hofstra improves to 9-7 overall and 2-2 in the Colonial Athletic Association. Towson slips to 3-10 overall and 0-4 in the CAA with the loss.

In Monday's 67-63 loss to George Mason, Kanacevic (16 points) and Williams (20 points) both set career highs in scoring, combining for 36 points. Against Towson, the duo combined for 34 points and shot a combined 13-23 from the floor. Williams also improved to 7-7 shooting from three-point territory in the last two games, leaving him two shy of the school record for consecutive three-pointers made, set by Mike Radziejewski in the 2002-03 season.

Hofstra won the game with an offensive push late in the first half, as it turned a 30-25 deficit with 8:58 left into a 45-36 lead at the break with a 20-6 run. Williams hit three three-pointers during the stretch, the last of which came with 46 seconds left in the half to put the Pride ahead 45-34.

Hofstra built the lead up to 53-38 on a Kanacevic jumper early in the second half. Towson got as close as nine points at 57-48 on a pair of foul shots from Robert Nwankwo, but could not get any closer. A 7-0 Hofstra run stretched the lead to 71-52 with 5:37 left to go, and the Pride cruised the rest of the way.

Junior guard Charles Jenkins (Queens, NY) added 13 points and seven rebounds for the Pride, while senior guard Cornelius Vines (Syracuse, NY) added 10 points. Calvin Lee led Towson with 17 points, while Nwankwo had 14 points, 10 rebounds and six blocks in a losing cause.

Hofstra held Towson to just 5-20 shooting from the floor in the second half, including 0-8 from three-point territory. The Pride came into the game with the sixth-best three-point defense in the nation.

Hofstra will next be in action when it travels to preseason CAA favorite Old Dominion on Saturday for a 4 p.m. contest.

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