MBB: Hofstra Drops Defensive Struggle With Nebraska

11/21/2010 6:26:00 PM

San Juan, P.R. - Senior guard Charles Jenkins (Queens, N.Y.) had a game-high 15 points, but Hofstra dropped a 62-47 decision to Nebraska in the consolation bracket of the Honda Puerto Rico Tip-Off on Sunday afternoon at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico.

With the loss, the Pride drops to 1-3 on the season, while Nebraska improves to 3-2.

The Pride started quickly as sophomore forward David Imes (Brooklyn, N.Y.) matched his career high in scoring (eight points) by the first media timeout, hitting two three-pointers and an 18-foot jumper to stake Hofstra to a 10-5 lead.

Nebraska, though, responded and surged ahead 28-18 on a put-back lay-up by Andre Almeida with 3:55 left in the half. Three foul shots from junior guard Mike Moore (New Haven, Conn.) pulled the Pride back within 28-21, but Nebraska scored two baskets in the paint to take a 32-21 lead into the break, as the Cornhuskers held Hofstra without a field goal for the final 9:02 of the half.

Nebraska kept the momentum up in the early part of the second half, and went ahead 42-26 on a three-pointer from Caleb Walker. Jenkins answered with a three-pointer at the 15:10 mark, but the Cornhuskers held Hofstra without a point for the next 6:25, as it took a 49-29 lead with 9:16 left.

A three-pointer from Moore brought Hofstra within 54-40 with 4:17 left, and two foul shots from Moore made it 54-42 with 3:32 to go, but Hofstra couldn't sustain the run and was unable to get the lead under double figures.

Jenkins' 15-point total ended a streak of 12 straight games with 20 or more, dating back to last season, including a combined 51 in the first two games of the Honda Puerto Rico Tip-Off (24 against North Carolina, 27 against Western Kentucky). Jenkins did shoot 50 percent or better (5-10) for the fourth game in a row to start the 2009-10 season.

Moore finished with 12 points for Hofstra, which shot just 30.8 percent on the day, while Puerto Rico native Jorge Brian Diaz was the only player in double figures for the Cornhuskers with 11.

Hofstra will be back in action when it returns home to face Wagner on Friday evening for a 7 p.m. contest at the Mack Sports Complex. For ticket information, contact the Hofstra Box Office at (516) HOF-TIXX or log on to www.GoHofstra.com.

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