Hempstead, NY - Justin Wright-Foreman scored a career-high tying 30 points and Brian Bernardi added 16 points as Hofstra snapped a six-game losing streak with a 78-73 win over Northeastern Saturday evening at the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex. Hofstra held off a late rally from the Huskies after leading by 16 midway through the second half.

Hofstra, which shot 55 from the field, improved to 10-11 overall and 2-6 in the Colonial Athletic Association. Northeastern lost for the third straight game and slipped to 12-8 overall and 5-3 in league play.

Eli Pemberton had nine points for the Pride, including the game clinching free throws in the final seconds, while Rokas Gustys had eight points and eight rebounds.
The Huskies started the game hot, hitting four of their first five shots to take a 9-2 lead 4:04 into the game. Four different Northeastern players scored in the game's opening minutes. The Pride responded with a 15-8 run over the next 3:38 to tie the score at 17 after a three-point play from Wright-Foreman with 11:28 remaining. The remainder of the half was closely contested with Hofstra taking its first lead, 29-26, on a Wright-Foreman three with 5:40 to go to cap off a 7-0 run. The run would extend to 11-0 following a Pemberton free throw and a three-pointer from Bernardi.

Bolden Brace ended the Hofstra run with a three-pointer for the Huskies, but Bernardi answered right back and then picked up a steal that led to a point as the Pride's lead grew to 37-29 with 2:54 to go. The Pride would take a 41-32 lead into the half. The Pride shot a blistering 62 percent in the opening stanza with Wright-Foreman scoring 13 points and Bernardi chipping in 11. Northeastern shot 50 percent in the first half.

The Pride would lead, 45-35, early in the second half before the Huskies put together a 7-2 run to make it a 47-42 game with 15:57 to play. Hofstra responded with a 12-4 run of its own to go up by 13, 59-46, with 12:18 to play on a basket from Hunter Sabety. Wright-Foreman would put Hofstra up 16, 62-46, with a three-pointer, and the Pride would not relinquish the lead the rest of the way. The Huskies cut the deficit to single digits, 65-56, with six minutes to go on an Alex Murphy layup. A free throw from TJ Williams made it an eight-point lead for the Pride.

The Huskies would put a little scare in the Pride as a Murphy three-pointer cut the lead to 66-62 with 3:38 to play. But Wright-Foreman answered with a jumper to give Hofstra a six-point cushion. The Huskies got within three with 1:29 to go on a pair of Williams free throws. But Wright-Foreman drained an 18-foot jumper on the Pride's next possession to push the lead to five, 73-68, with 1:02 remaining. Shawn Occeus hit a three-pointer with 46 ticks left to get the Huskies within two, but Deron Powers converted a three-point play with 17 seconds to go to push the lead to 76-71.

Murphy hit a layup and was fouled with five second to play. He missed the free throw intentionally and Pemberton was fouled on the rebound. The freshman hit both free throws with 4.3 seconds left to seal the win.   

 Williams had a team-high 25 points for the Huskies, while Murphy had 18 points and Devon Begley added 16.

The Pride will be on the road for their next contest, Thursday night at Drexel. Tip-off in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is set for 7 p.m.

Notes:
-Wright-Foreman's 30 points marked the fifth time he has scored more than 20 points in a game this season and matched his career-high set against William & Mary on January 2.
-Bernardi's 16 points were his highest total since an 18-point showing against William & Mary on January 2.
-The Hofstra win ties the all-time series between the two schools at 20-20.