Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Hofstra University Athletics

THE PRIDE OF LONG ISLAND
THE PRIDE OF LONG ISLAND
Dion Nesmith
Dion Nesmith scored a season-high 22 points for the Pride
69
Elon ELON 11-14 (3-9 CAA)
80
Winner Hofstra HOFSTRA 16-9 (7-5 CAA)
Elon ELON
11-14 (3-9 CAA)
69
Final
80
Hofstra HOFSTRA
16-9 (7-5 CAA)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Elon ELON 37 32 69
Hofstra HOFSTRA 39 41 80

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | By Brian Bohl

MBB: Nesmith’s Season-High 22 Points Leads Pride Past Elon

Hempstead, N.Y. – Graduate guard Dion Nesmith scored a season-high 22 points off the bench and junior guard Juan'ya Green provided a great all-around effort with 15 points, 10 assists and five rebounds to lift Hofstra to an 80-69 victory over Elon in a Colonial Athletic Association matchup on Saturday night at the Mack Sports Complex.

Junior forward Ameen Tanksley scored 10 of his 18 total points in the second half with seven rebounds. Helping him in the low post was a stellar effort from senior forward Moussa Kone, who scored 10 points and finished one rebound shy of a double-double.

Hofstra won its second straight game to improve to 16-9 overall and 7-5 in CAA play. The Pride swept the season series after defeating Elon on the road on Jan. 10. Austin Hamilton paced Elon with 21 points, but the Phoenix fell to 11-14 and 3-9.

Nesmith shot 7-for-10 from the field and made all five of his free throw attempts to best his previous season high of 18 points set most recently at Columbia on Dec. 20. Nesmith became the fourth Hofstra player to register a 20-point game this season, joining Tanksley, Green and sophomore guard Brian Bernardi.
Green notched his sixth double-double (via points and assists) of the season. He racked up six assists in the second half and was 7-for-8 from the line to help Hofstra secure the victory. The Pride improved to 7-4 at home.

Nesmith has scored in double figures in 15 games this season. He registered his sixth career 20-point game but first in a Hofstra uniform.
Tanner Samson added 12 points and Eljiah Bryant contributed 15 points and five rebounds for Elon.

The Pride led for almost 27 minutes, but Elon took a one-point lead in the second half off a 9-0 run capped by Samon's three-pointer. The Pride responded with Kone hitting a key jumper with 9:21 remaining, putting the Pride ahead for good at 59-58.

A 9-0 run gave Elon its first lead of the second half when Tanner Samson hit a three-pointer for a 58-57 lead. The Pride responded with Moussa Kone hitting a jumper. Tanksley provided a cushion with a left-wing three-pointer in front of the Pride bench off Green's feed. Nesmith then generated a steal and facilitated Tanksley's fast-break attempt that drew a foul. He hit two free throws for a 64-58 edge with 8:24 left.
 
Nesmith provided an immediate jolt off the bench, hitting four of five field goal attempts in the opening and scoring five straight points on two straight possessions. Nesmith created his own shot off drives and scored a team-high 12 points in the opening half, including two free throws after attacking the basket and drawing the foul. His shots at the line gave Hofstra a 39-37 halftime lead.

The Pride erased a six-point deficit using a strong defensive effort that forced Elon to miss six of seven shots at one and point while holding the Phoenix scoreless for more than three minutes. That propelled Hofstra to a 29-23 lead on freshman Rokas Gustys' power move inside.  
Hofstra improved to 14-5 when leading at halftime.

The Pride will cap a two-game homestand on Thursday with a matchup against preseason CAA favorite Northeastern at 7 p.m. from the Mack Sports Complex. 
Print Friendly Version