Hempstead, N.Y. – Graduate forward Zeke Upshaw scored 22 points as one of four Hofstra players to finish in double figures as the Pride defeated Central Connecticut, 72-67, in a non-conference Sunday matinee at the Mack Sports Complex.
Senior forward Stephen Nwaukoni notched 12 points and 12 rebounds for the double-double and junior forward Moussa Kone nearly matched that effort with 13 points and eight boards to help Hofstra snap a three-game losing streak in improving to 3-6. CCSU's Faronte Drakeford had 23 points and Kyle Vinales poured in 21, though the Blue Devils still dropped to 3-7.
Freshman guard Jamall Robinson added 13 points as all five Hofstra starters logged at least 30 minutes. The Pride saw four players end in double figures for the fifth time this season. Nwaukoni registered his seventh career double-double and his second of the season following one against Belmont on Nov. 24.
Kone finished an alley-oop attempt that sophomore Jordan Allen initiated to give Hofstra a 63-61 edge with 3:21 left. Hofstra would not relinquish the read from that point on. The Pride improved to 2-3 at home and 8-2 in the all-time series against CCSU. Hofstra has won the last eight series meetings and played the Blue Devils for the first time since the 1993-94 season.
CCSU started a back-and-forth second half by scoring the first six points to turn a deficit into a 32-27 lead 1:30 in. Out of a Hofstra timeout, the Pride responded with Upshaw's left-corner three-pointer. Freshman guard Chris Jenkins came off the bench and hit a pair of three-pointers, including one from the left wing opposite his team's bench, to bring Hofstra within 38-36.
Hofstra capitalized on a missed dunk with Allen making a layup on the other end. Upshaw then scored a layup off a missed free throw to knot the score at 40 with 14:18 remaining. CCSU went up by as much as three before Upshaw's spin-move floater in the lane tied the score at 50 with Hofstra calling timeout with 9:10 left.
Kone powered to the lane and scored from the right block while drawing contact for a three-point play that put Hofstra ahead, 53-50. That marked the Pride's first lead since halftime.
Vinales picked up his fourth foul on a hand check with just more than seven minutes left and went to the bench before he returned less than two minutes. The Blue Devils were hampered by foul trouble when Drakeford was whistled for his fourth foul at the six-minute mark.
The teams exchanged three-pointers to keep it tied at 57. But Kone's emphatic put-back two-handed dunk gave Hofstra the two-point lead. Hofstra extended the lead to four before CCSU scored on consecutive trips.
Kone gave Hofstra the lead again when he connected with Allen on an alley-opp. Nwaukoni gave the Pride so much-needed breathing room with a big offensive rebound that facilitated Allen's open basket on the low right block for a 65-61 lead. CCSU moved back to a single possession before Vinales was whistled for his fifth and final foul with 1:14 showing.
The Pride forced a held ball on CCSU's next trip down and inbounded the ball with the possession arrow favoring Hofstra. Kone drew Drakeford's fifth and final foul and made one-of-two to go up 66-63 with 47 seconds left.
Juwan Numan hit two free throws, though Upshaw made both free throws for a 68-65 lead. Robinson forced a steal and made two free throws with 14.1 seconds on the clock. CCSU scored off an uncontested layup on the next trip down before Upshaw hit one-of-two free throws to make it 71-67 and ice the game.
Nwaukoni, Robinson and Upshaw combined for all but five of Hofstra's points in the opening half as the Pride took a 27-26 edge into the break.
Upshaw drilled a left-wing three-pointer off a pick-and-roll for a 24-17 lead, which marked the largest lead of the opening period as Hofstra established a halftime advantage for the seventh time in nine games this season.
Hofstra will next be in action on Monday, Dec. 23 with a 7 p.m. road contest at Siena.
