#CAAHoops MBB Recap – Jan. 26 – Estrada Goes for 40; Hampton, A&T Pull Off Double-Digit Comebacks
Miles McQuiggan
RICHMOND, Va. (Jan. 26, 2023) – The CAA’s defending Player of the Year tallied the league’s first 40-point game of the season, multiple teams bounced back from double-digit deficits, and three-pointers were plentiful in Thursday’s men’s basketball action.
Hofstra 82, Elon 65
Aaron Estrada scored 26 of his career-high 40 points in the second half to power Hofstra to a road victory. The defending CAA Player of the Year went 16-for-25 and 8-for-15 from three to lift the Pride from a second-half deficit to a double-digit win. Hofstra (14-8, 7-2) made 16 threes as a team and was 11-for-18 from distance in the second half.
Tyler Thomas added 23 points for the Pride.
Sean Halloran led Elon (2-19, 0-8) with 24 points of his own. The last three 40-point performances for CAA players have been Hofstra guards (Estrada, Omar Silverio, Desure Buie) in games against Elon.
North Carolina A&T 68, Drexel 55
North Carolina A&T opened the second half on a 41-9 run to turn the tables after being down 12 at the break. The Aggies trailed 31-19 and the teams traded baskets to open the stanza before A&T (11-12, 6-4) ripped off a 28-2 stretch to take control.
Marcus Watson led all scorers with 22 points, including a highlight-reel between-the-legs dunk on a breakaway in the final minute. Four Aggies were in double figures as A&T shot 59% in the second half; A&T held a 52-36 advantage on the glass.
Justin Moore and
Coletrane Washington scored 14 each for Drexel (12-9, 6-3).
Hampton 67, Delaware 66
Jordan Nesbitt erupted down the stretch – including a run of providing 19 consecutive Hampton points – before sinking the game-winning free throws in a 31-point night to cap off a comeback win. Hampton (5-16, 2-7) trailed by 12 midway through the second half and was down 10 at 50-40 with 11:12 to play when Nesbitt – who had seven points in the opening half – powered the Pirates back to a tie game at 61-61 with 3:12 remaining.
Deuce Dean hit a go-ahead stepback for Hampton and Delaware (11-11, 3-6) momentarily moved back in front on a
Jyáre Davis putback with 30 seconds remaining, but Nesbitt was fouled on the offensive possession and made both shots to earn Hampton back-to-back wins. Davis led Delaware with 20 points.
William & Mary 77, Stony Brook 74
William & Mary set a single-game program record for three-point percentage by going 13-for-16 (81.3%) and held off Stony Brook’s late comeback bid. W&M (9-13, 4-5) led 45-31 at the break behind 16 of
Anders Nelson’s game-high 27 points and four of the Tribe’s 10 first-half threes. Stony Brook (7-14, 3-5) held the Tribe to four three-point attempts in the second half to cut a 19-point deficit to one in the closing seconds before the Tribe iced the game at the line.
Frankie Policelli scored 25 points for the Seawolves.
Towson 72, Northeastern 63
Towson chipped away at an early deficit with the help of
Charles Thompson, who scored 18 of his 20 points in the second half to lift the Tigers to their fifth-straight victory. Towson (15-7, 7-2) trailed by nine late in the first half before closing on a 12-1 run to take a two-point lead into the locker room. The Tigers held the Huskies without a field goal in the final four minutes of the first half. Northeastern (8-12, 4-5) would move back in front at 35-34, but Towson responded with a 22-5 run aided by just one three-pointer to open up its largest lead of the night.
Coleman Stucke led Northeastern with 19 points, while
Chris Doherty grabbed 16 rebounds as part of a double-double.
UNCW 52, Monmouth 49
UNCW withstood a late Monmouth comeback bid to earn its seventh win of CAA play. UNCW (17-6, 7-3) got 26 of its 52 points in the paint and built a 13-point cushion before Monmouth (1-20, 0-8) battled back to within one on a pair of occasions in the closing minutes. The Seahawk defense stepped up, limiting the Hawks to one made field goal in the final 5:42 to grind out a home win.
Trazarien White led UNCW with 16 points while
Maleeck Harden-Hayes added 14;
Klemen Vuga was one point shy of a double-double to pace Monmouth.
Follow #CAAHoops on
Facebook,
Twitter and
Instagram to get up-to-date information and to learn more about CAA member institutions and their basketball programs.