Writing Sample #3

Pride Defeats Fordham, 60-40

HEMPSTEAD, NY- The Hofstra Pride are winners for the fifth straight game, as they defeated Fordham Wednesday night 60-40 at the Mack Sports Complex. Four players scored in double figures for the Pride, and their defense was solid as they improve their record to 5-1.

Hofstra has made a habit of allowing their opponents to keep the game close in the first halves of games this season, and the trend continued against Fordham. The teams went back and forth for much of the first half. Fordham’s largest lead on the night was three points, which occurred twice, both in the first half. They were ahead 15-12 with 8:30 remaining, and were again up by three with 1:30 to play in the half with the score 23-20.

In the final 1:30 of the first, junior guard Cornelius Vines (7 points) hit back-to-back threes and the Pride went into the locker room up 27-23.

Fordham got within two points of the Pride with 15:18 on a jumper from guard Chris Bethel, but that was as close as the game would get. The next time up the court, sophomore guard Charles Jenkins poured in a three from the left wing, which began a 14-0 Pride run which put them out in front for good.

Jenkins ended the game tied with sophomore forward Greg Washington with 11 points for Hofstra’s top scorer. The 11 points is just half of the 22 PPG Jenkins had averaged coming into the game. This signified the balanced attack that the offense showed.

“Everybody got involved in the offense tonight. The guards, and the big guys, it didn’t matter. We shared the ball well and it showed,” said assistant coach David Duke.

But it wasn’t just the offense that shined on Wednesday. The Pride defense held Fordham (0-6) to just 40 points, with only 17 of those coming in the second half. Fordham ended the game shooting 26.3 percent, their lowest mark of the year.

“The second half defense was key,” Duke said. Once we got a few stops, we got on a run and ended up winning by a large margin.”

On top of Jenkins’ 11 points, he also had a career high nine assists. The other two Pride players to finish in double figures were forwards Miklos Szabo and Zygis Sestokas. Fordham was led in scoring by guard Mike Moore’s 16 points.

After Wednesday, Hofstra has now completed the non-conference start to their season. They will match up against conference foes Towson and Stony Brook next Saturday and Wednesday, respectively, both on the road. The players know that they have had a successful beginning to the year, but it’s the conference games that really matter.

“Obviously it always feels good to get off to a good start,” said Washington. “But we’re really going to have to be prepared to play better against the teams in the [Colonial Athletic Conference].”