Hempstead, N.Y. - Senior forward Frank Hassell had 18 points and 13 rebounds and junior guard Kent Bazemore also added 18, including a key three-pointer late, as Old Dominion gave Hofstra its first conference loss with a 75-64 win on Saturday afternoon at the Mack Sports Complex.
The loss drops Hofstra's record to 11-6 on the year and 5-1 in the CAA, while ending a 10-game conference win streak dating back to last season. Old Dominion improves to 13-4 and 4-2 in the CAA with the win. Senior guard Charles Jenkins (Queens, N.Y.) and junior guard Mike Moore (New Haven, Conn.) each had 19 to lead the way for Hofstra.
Old Dominion trailed for most of the first half after falling behind 12-0, but took a 29-27 lead into the break. The Monarchs then used a 10-3 run to take a 42-33 lead at the 15:45 mark on a steal and breakaway lay-up from senior guard Ben Finney. Jenkins, though, answered with four quick points on two fast breaks to make the score 42-38 and a drive from Moore made the score 46-44.
Hofstra was within 53-50 at the under eight media timeout, but Hassell scored back-to-back baskets down low to put the Monarchs ahead 57-50 with just over six minutes left. Sophomore forward David Imes (Brooklyn, N.Y.) had a put-back off a Jenkins miss to get Hofstra within five, but another jump hook from Hassell answered with 4:10 left.
Moore hit four straight foul shots, improving to 28-28 at the line in CAA play, sandwiched around a 1-for-2 trip from Kent Bazemore, to get the Pride within 60-56. Bazemore, though, hit a dagger three-pointer with 2:15 left, then fed Finney for a lay-up off a steal with 1:46 remaining to end Hofstra comeback hopes.
The Pride jumped out to an early 12-0 lead as senior forward Greg Washington (Centereach, N.Y.) had four blocks in the first 1:45 of the game, and hit the game's first basket. Jenkins converted a three-point play and then fed Moore for a lay-up to give Hofstra a 7-0 lead. Freshman guard Shemiye McLendon (Vero Beach, Fla.) then scored five straight points on a bank shot and a three-pointer before Old Dominion ended the run with two Chris Cooper foul shots at the 13:30 mark.
The Monarchs scored the next two baskets to pull within 12-6, and then went on a 9-0 run to get within 20-17 at the 7:20 mark on a Nick Wright dunk, before Moore stopped the run with a three-pointer. However, Bazemore hit a pair of three-pointers to put the Monarchs ahead for the first time at 27-25, and after McLendon tied the score with a short jumper, Hassell hit a spinning lay-up with 45 seconds left to give Old Dominion, which held a 28-13 rebounding edge in the first half, a 29-27 lead at the break.
Jenkins' 19 points moved him past Loren Stokes (2003-07) and into third place on Hofstra's career scoring list with 2,162 points, which also ranks sixth in Colonial Athletic Association history. He also had two rebounds to give him 500 in his career, making him the only player in school history to reach 2100 points, 500 rebounds and 400 assists (Speedy Claxton is the only other player with 2000-500-400, and he finished with 2,015 points).
The Monarchs had a 52-28 rebounding edge on the day, led by Hassell's 13. Hofstra fell into a tie for first in the CAA at 5-1 with VCU, while James Madison is 4-1 heading into tonight's game with UNC Wilmington.
Hofstra will next be in action when it hosts UNC Wilmington on Wednesday night for a 7 p.m. contest.
