Williamsburg, VA – Sophomore guard Brian Bernardi had 23 points to lead the Pride, but William & Mary used a huge first half run to hold on for a 100-79 victory over the Hofstra Men's Basketball team on Wednesday evening at Kaplan Arena. 

The loss drops Hofstra's record to 14-8 overall and 5-4 in Colonial Athletic Association play. William & Mary improved to 13-7 and 7-2 in league action with its 13th straight home victory. 

The score would be tied at five less than three minutes into the contest following a three-pointer from junior guard Juan'ya Green before William & Mary took complete control with 11 straight points to lead 16-5 with 13:38 left before intermission after basket from Oliver Tot. 

William & Mary would extend its advantage to as many as 27 in the opening stanza as a layup from Greg Malinowski with 6:22 to play before halftime made it 42-15 in favor of the Tribe. 

Trailing 44-18 with just over minutes to play in the first half, Hofstra would made its first run of the contest and a 10-0 scoring run would cut the deficit to 44-28 with 3:33 showing on the clock. The run was fueled by Bernardi, who had eight points, including two three-pointers. 

Hofstra came out of the break with some much-needed energy and hit a pair of three-pointers, via junior forward Ameen Tanksley and Green, to cut the deficit to 16, 56-40 with 17:57 left in regulation. The run forced the Tribe to utilize its first timeout of the second stanza. 

The Pride added a layup from junior forward Malik Nichols to cut the gap to 14, 56-42, with 16:31 to play in the second half. 

A three-pointer from Bernardi with 14:06 on the clock would get Hofstra all the way back to down just 11, 58-47. 

That would be as close as the Pride would get as William & Mary kept Hofstra at bay the remainder of the contest en route to the victory. 

Tanksley added 20 points and 10 rebounds (third double-double) for Hofstra, which also got 14 points, four assists and three rebounds from Green. 

Marcus Thornton led William & Mary with 24 points, while Daniel Dixon had 18 points on 6-6 from three-point range for the Tribe. 

Hofstra returns to action on Saturday night when the Pride entertain Towson at 8 p.m. from the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex. The game will air in New York on SNY and check your local listings for broadcast information in your area. 

For ticket information visit HofstraTickets.com or call the Hofstra Athletics Box Office at (516) HOF-TIXX.