Hempstead, NY – The Hofstra Men's Basketball team will return to the friendly confines of the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex on Tuesday when the Pride host Norfolk State at 7 p.m.
Pride Productions will have live video and audio of the game via GoHofstra.com/PrideProductions. In addition, the game can be heard on WGCH (1490 AM). For ticket information call (516) HOF-TIXX.
Hofstra (4-2) will welcome being back at home this week as the Pride just concluded a nearly week-long road trip that took the squad to Tampa, Florida to face South Florida and to Jackson, Mississippi to take on Jackson State. Hofstra went 1-1 on the trip, dropping a narrow 71-70 decision at South Florida on Tuesday before rebounding and routing the Tigers, 86-56 on Friday evening.
Against JSU on Friday, the duo of sophomore guard
Brian Bernardi and junior forward
Ameen Tanksley led the way as Bernardi knocked down six three-pointers en route to a game-high 26 points and Tanksley had five three-pointers on the night and finished with 21 points.
Hofstra has won three of its last four games to move its record to the 4-2 ledger. The Pride, which is already 3-0 at home this season, is led in scoring by the 18.3 points per game average of junior guard
Juan'ya Green. He also leads Hofstra with 39 assists this season. Bernardi and Tanksley continue to be great scoring options for the Pride this season with Tanksley averaging 16.5 points and Bernardi averaging 13.8. Graduate guard
Dion Nesmith, who ranks fourth with 11 points per contest, is just two points shy of 1,000 for his career, which includes two seasons at Monmouth and two seasons at Hofstra.
With two wins already this season of 30 or more points, it marks the first time since the 1999-2000 campaign that Hofstra has defeated two Division I schools by at least 30 points. This season, Hofstra defeated Jacksonville, 94-61, and JSU, 86-56. In 1999-2000, the Pride earned five wins of at least 30 points. Hofstra did defeat Farmingdale State and UNCW by 30 or more points in 2009-10, but FSU is Division III.
The 4-2 record through six games this season is the program's best since the 2008-09 squad was 5-1 through the first six contests of the season.
Norfolk State is 4-3 on the season and they have picked up two straight two-point victories defeating St. Francis Brooklyn on Friday (72-70 OT) and Saint Peter's (60-58) on Saturday night. The Spartans are led by Jeff Short's 16.1 points per game and Malik Thomas' 13.4 points per outing. RaShid Gaston leads the way with 6.8 rebounds per game, while Jamal Fuentes is dishing out 4.5 assists per outing.
Hofstra has never faced Norfolk State and is 7-6 all-time against the members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). Coach Mihalich is 1-0 against Norfolk State in his career as he defeated the Spartans, 80-69, during the 2009-10 campaign in a game at the Don Haskins Sun Bowl Tournament.
