Elon Becomes First #8 Seed To Reach Title Game After 76-58 Win Over Hofstra
Rob Washburn
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HARRISONBURG, Va., Elon became the first #8 seed to ever advance to the title game of the Hercules Tires CAA Men’s Basketball Championship, knocking off defending champion Hofstra, 76-58, Monday night at the Atlantic Union Bank Center.
It was the seventh consecutive win for the Phoenix (10-8), who out-rebounded the fourth-seeded Pride, 48-28, including an 18-5 edge on the offensive glass. The advantage allowed Elon to take 20 more field goal attempts than Hofstra and it also outscored the Pride 21-3 in second-chance points.
Elon boasted a balanced scoring attack with five players in double figures, led by 19 points from freshman guard Darius Burford. Hunter Woods and Ikenna Ndugba scored 14 points each, with Ndugba pitching in with 10 rebounds for his first double-double of the season.
Hofstra was led offensively by senior Jalen Ray, who led all scorers with 20 points. Caleb Burgess added 16 points for the Pride, who fell to 13-10.
An entertaining and evenly-matched first half saw the Pride take a 34-33 lead into the locker room. In the early stages of the second half, Hofstra pushed the lead to 39-33 on a three-pointer by Ray. Elon responded with a 10-0 run, going on top 43-39 on a Burford layup with 15:36 left.
The Phoenix got back-to-back three-pointers from Simon Wright and a triple from Ndugba to extend its advantage to 52-42 with 13:24 to go, but Hofstra answered with a 12-2 spurt capped by a Burgess trey to close within 55-54 with 8:15 on the clock.
Following an Elon timeout, Hunter McIntosh nailed a three-pointer for the Phoenix to stop Hofstra’s momentum. Elon closed the game on a 21-4 run.
Elon will face the winner of the second semifinal between #2 Northeastern and #6 Drexel in Tuesday’s 7 p.m. championship game.