Hempstead, NY – The Hofstra Men's Basketball team will open Colonial Athletic Association play on Thursday afternoon when it hosts Delaware at 1 p.m. from the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex. 

The New Year's Eve afternoon contest will get the conference slate started for both teams as Hofstra concluded its non-conference schedule on Monday with a seven-point win over Sacred Heart. 

Fans can purchase tickets by visiting HofstraTickets.com, where it is now possible to print their tickets at home. In addition fans can also call (516) HOF-TIXX or visit the Hofstra Athletics Box Office in the Mack Sports Complex for more ticket information.

There will be Pride Productions live video of the game with links available on this page or via the men's basketball schedule page at GoHofstra.com. The Pride Productions audio only broadcast can also be heard via the portal and also locally on WRHU (88.7 FM) and the WRHU mobile app.

Hofstra (8-4) finished its non-conference schedule with an 80-73 win over Sacred Heart as senior guard Juan'ya Green had 22 points (20 in the second half) and sophomore center Rokas Gustys tallied a career-high 17 points along with 10 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season. 

Hofstra is 8-4 through 12 games for the second consecutive season. It marks the first time since the 2005-06 (10-2) and 2006-07 (8-4) seasons that Hofstra has started 8-4 or better in back-to-back seasons.

Green took over the Hofstra scoring lead with his solid game against the Pioneers as he is now averaging 17 points per game to a 16.7 points per game average for senior forward Ameen Tanksley. Gustys has been solid both offensively and defensively for the Pride this season as he leads the team with 9.2 rebounds and also is averaging 9.5 points per outing. 

Delaware is 5-5 heading into its final non-conference game of the season at Buffalo on Tuesday evening. The Blue Hens have lost two straight, falling to Boston College and Villanova. Kory Holden leads Delaware with 18.3 points per game, while Cazmon Hayes is averaging 14.3 and Marvin King-Davis is also in double figures at 12.7. King Davis leads the Blue Hens with 8.8 rebounds per outing, while Holden is the top assist person on Delaware with 4.0 per contest. 

One of Hofstra's oldest rivals, the Pride and the Blue Hens will be meeting for the 82nd time on Thursday with Hofstra holding a 50-31 advantage in the series. The first-ever meeting occurred during the 1954-55 campaign with Hofstra earning a 64-59 victory. Hofstra won both meetings a season ago, but prior to that, the Blue Hens won eight straight in the series. Coach Mihalich is 2-4 all-time against Delaware as a head coach.

Following the game against the Blue Hens, Hofstra will head to Towson for its first road CAA game of the season. That contest will start a three-game road trip for the Pride, as Hofstra will also visit Charleston and Elon. In addition, the Towson game will mark the Pride's first contest out of the state of New York since an 84-80 win over La Salle on December 2.