Hofstra Outlasts Delaware, 78-74 In OT, To Reach CAA Title Game
Rob Washburn
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NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (March 11, 2019) – Senior Justin Wright-Foreman poured in a CAA Tournament record 42 points as top-seeded Hofstra outlasted No. 5 Delaware, 78-74 in overtime in the semifinals of the 2019 CAA Basketball Championship, presented by Jersey Mike’s Subs.
The Pride (27-6), which set a new school record for wins in a season, advances to Tuesday’s 7 p.m. championship game against either No. 2 Northeastern or No. 3 Charleston. Hofstra will be making its first CAA Championship game appearance since 2016 and just its third in program history.
Wright-Foreman’s 42 points broke the previous CAA tournament record of 37 set by William & Mary’s Marcus Thornton in 2015 and Jordon Talley in 2018. Tareq Coburn added 13 points for the Pride while Eli Pemberton had 11 points.
Delaware freshman Ithiel Horton drained 5-of-9 from 3-point range and scored a team-best 21 points, including 19 after halftime. Point guard Kevin Anderson contributed 17 points, six rebounds and four steals and Ryan Allen chipped in 14 points.
Hofstra closed the first half on a 17-7 run and built a commanding 38-25 halftime advantage. The Pride was 7-of-12 from 3-point range in the first 20 minutes, while the Blue Hens were just 3-of-13 from beyond the arc.
Delaware, which overcame a 14-point halftime deficit to defeat William & Mary in Sunday’s quarterfinals, nearly pulled it off again. Horton hit two threes during a 14-2 run for the Blue Hens early in the second half that pulled Delaware within two. He also hit a jumper at the 8:33 mark to put the Blue Hens ahead 52-51. Neither team led by more than two over the final eight minutes of regulation. Wright-Foreman drilled a three that put Hofstra on top 67-65 with 1:29 left, but UD’s Eric Carter tied the game at 67-67 by hitting two free throws with 19 seconds remaining. Hofstra missed a jumper in the final seconds, sending the contest to overtime.
The teams went back-and-forth early in the extra frame. Anderson’s jumper put the Hens ahead 74-72 with just under two minutes left, but Wright-Foreman answered with a layup. The Pride defense was able to come up with a steal and Jalen Ray hit two free throws with 16 seconds to go to put the Pride up 76-74. Playing for the final shot, Anderson drove the baseline but stepped out of bounds. Ray hit two more free throws with eight seconds left to seal the win.