Orlando, FL - Cruz Davis led four Hofstra players in double-figures with 17 points in the Pride's 82-78 loss to UCF Monday night at the Addition Financial Arena. The game was the season-opener for both teams.

Hofstra led by as many as nine points, 16-7, in the first half following a Silas Sunday layup with 11:30 on the clock. The Golden Knights would use an 11-2 run to tie the score at 18 with 7:48 remaining. UCF would take a nine point lead, 36-27, with 1:08 to play on Riley Kugel's three-pointer. However, the Pride closed the half on a 5-0 run capped by an A.J. Wills three-pointer with four seconds to go to trail by four at the half, 36-32. 

Hofstra would take its first lead of the second half, 53-51, with 12:39 remaining on three free throws from Preston Edmead. After that there were four lead changes and four tie scores. UCF took the lead for good, 66-64, on Themus Fulks' jumper with 7:48 to play. The lead would grow to as many as eight points on two occasions. Hofstra would get as close as three, 81-78, with 45 seconds to play on a pair of German Plotnikov free throws. 

Edmead had 16 points and six assists in his collegiate debut. Plotnikov and Sunday also scored in double figures with 13 and 10 points, respectively. Sunday also had six rebounds. 

Kugel scored a game-high 19 points to pace UCF. Jordan Burks added 17 points, while Fulks had 16. 

Hofstra returns to action Friday night at Iona with a 7 p.m. tip-off. 

Notes:
-This was the first meeting between Hofstra and UCF.
-Davis added five assists for the Pride.
-Plotnikov picked up four steals. 
-Hofstra is 52-38 all-time in season openers.