Elon, NC – The magical start to 2015 continued for the Hofstra Men's Basketball team as the Pride got a game-high 25 points from junior forward Ameen Tanksley and the first career points/rebounds double-double from graduate guard Dion Nesmith (13 points, career-high 10 rebounds) in Hofstra's 79-61 victory over Elon on Saturday evening at Alumni Gym.

The win was the seventh road win of the season for Hofstra, a total that leads the entire nation. 

Hofstra is now 13-4 overall and 4-0 in Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) play. The 13-4 start is the program's best-ever after 17 games (Division I era; since 1972-73). In addition, the overall win streak is now at six games, the longest since a seven-game streak in 2010. The Pride's 4-0 conference start is the best since 2010-11. 

The game was the second-ever meeting between Hofstra and Elon and the first as conference rivals. The teams previously met during the 2009-10 campaign. 

Elon falls to 10-7 and 2-2 in league play with the loss. 

Hofstra would hold Elon to just 1-11 shooting from beyond the arc in the opening stanza as the Pride opened up a 14-point halftime advantage. 

The Phoenix would hold an early 11-8 lead following a layup from Dmitri Thompson before Hofstra made its first significant run of the contest. The Pride would turn three-point deficit into a five-point lead as they went on a 10-2 run over the next 3:35 to lead 18-13 after a three-pointer from Tanksley with 9:29 showing on the clock. Tanksley and senior center Moussa Kone each had four points during the spurt to lead the Pride. 

Hofstra would take its first double figure lead of the evening at the 7:25 mark as the Pride scored seven straight, including three-pointers from junior guard Juan'ya Green and Tanksley, to open up a 25-15 lead with 7:25 to play before intermission.

The Pride's lead would build to as many as 16 in the final two minutes of the opening twenty minutes as a three-pointer from Bernardi made it 36-20 with 96 ticks left in the half. Hofstra would settle for a 14-point lead as Nesmith, who had a strong first half with eight points, seven rebounds and two assists, closed the first half scoring with a free throw with two seconds remaining. 

Elon would gradually chip away at the Hofstra lead in the second half as after sophomore guard Brian Bernardi drained a three-pointer 10 seconds into the half, the Phoenix used a 10-3 run to close the gap to 10, 45-35. 

Hofstra would end the run, and a scoring drought of nearly five minutes, at the 13:39 mark as Bernardi hit another three-pointer to make it a 48-35 game.  

The Phoenix were not done, though, as Thompson hit a layup just over a minute later to get the Hofstra lead under double figures for the first time since 5:09 was left in the first half. That would make it 51-42 in favor of the Pride. 

Elon would close to within seven with just under 11 minutes left in regulation before a timely Hofstra run would push the lead back to 18. Freshman forward Rokas Gustys started an 11-0 run and he would be joined by three-pointers from Tanksley (twice) and Bernardi to give the Pride back its large advantage. 

Hofstra would never be seriously challenged the rest of the way as the Pride would capture the 18-point victory. 
Green finished with 14 points, seven rebounds and six assists, while Bernardi added 17 points to the effort. 

Hofstra made 14 three-pointers in the game to fall one shy of tying the school record for the third time this season.

Tony Sabato had 12 points and five rebounds for Elon, while Ryan Winters added 10 points and five rebounds. 

Hofstra continues its tough opening stretch in CAA play on Wednesday when it heads to Boston to face Northeastern at 7 p.m. That game will conclude a stretch that will see the Pride open conference play with four of their first five on the road.