Philadelphia, PA - Cruz Davis had a game-high 25 points, including 20 in the second half, but it wasn't enough as the Hofstra men's basketball team dropped a narrow 81-76 decision to Temple on Wednesday evening at The Liacouras Center. 

Biggie Patterson had 10 of his 15 points in the opening stanza to keep the Pride close at the break. 

The loss dropped Hofstra's record to 2-3 this season, while Temple moved to 3-1. 

Hofstra took a pair of five-point leads in the opening 20 minutes, including the last time at 24-19 with just over eight minutes left before intermission. Eventually the Owls would score the final four points of the first half to take a two-point lead into the break. 

A three-pointer from Patterson at the 16:50 mark of the second half would put the Pride back in front at 41-40 before Temple scored seven straight to take a six-point advantage. 

With five minutes to play, the Owls held an eight-point lead before Hofstra gave it everything and attempted to rally. A three-pointer from Joshua DeCady at the 3:34 mark would make it a two-point game, 66-64. 

Down 75-72, Hofstra would regain possession with under a minute to play but a potential tying three-pointer with 27 seconds left was off the mark and Temple would hold on for the victory. 

DeCady chipped in with 13 points, while Victory Onuetu added seven points and nine rebounds. 

Aiden Tobiason had 21 points for Temple, which also got 20 points from Derrian Ford.

Hofstra will have more than a week off until its next game as the Pride will take part in the Cathedral Classic at The Palestra in Philadelphia beginning next Friday. The Pride opens play in the tournament against La Salle. The game against the Explorers will feature three former Hofstra staff members on the La Salle bench as former head coach Joe Mihalich, along with assistant coaches Colin Curtin and Shane Nichols all are on staff with the Explorers. 

NOTES
- Today marked the 20th all-time meeting between Hofstra and Temple with the Owls leading the series, 14-6. 
- Today was Davis's second game of at least 20 points this season after scoring 24 against Molloy. He is the first Hofstra player with 25 or more in a game since he scored 28 against Delaware on February 22, 2025. 
- Patterson has now reached double figures in four consecutive games. 
- German Plotnikov played in his 100th game in a Hofstra uniform.