Hempstead, NY - The Hofstra men's basketball team will open play at the Baha Mar Hoops: Nassau Championship on Friday when the Pride faces Rice. 

Tip-off from the Baha Mar Convention Center is scheduled for 7 p.m. 

The trip will be a historic one for the program as it is the Pride's first trip to The Bahamas and the team's first inseason trip outside the United States since taking part in the Northern Classic in Canada during the 2022-23 season. Hofstra has also taken part in the Paradise Jam in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands in 2015-16 and went on a foreign tour to Canada during the offseason in August/September of 2017. 

The Pride's other two games at the Baha Mark Hoops tournament include a Saturday showdown against Tarleton State at 4:30 p.m. and then Hofstra concludes play on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. with a game against Arkansas State. 

Hofstra enters the tournament with a 4-2 record, earning victories over SUNY Old Westbury, Iona, Seton Hall, and Massachusetts. The Pride's two losses have come on the road against Power 4 schools, Florida State and Houston. 

Rice is 5-1 and most recently earned a 61-58 win over Houston Christian on November 22. 

Tarleton State is 1-5 and dropped a 72-49 decision at Michigan in its last outing on November 21. 

Arkansas State is 4-1 heading into the tournament and defeated Lane, 103-60, on November 22. 

Interestingly enough, this will mark the first-ever meeting for Hofstra against all three opponents it will face at the Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championship.