NIT: ODU 61 – Hofstra 51
Perhaps the anger from their Selection Sunday snub finally wore off. Or maybe it was their short bench and long minutes coming back to haunt them.
Whatever the case, when the Hofstra Pride needed a basket down the stretch last night, they couldn’t buy a bucket with all the money in Bill Gates’ bank account.
They may have accomplished more as a selection Sunday martyr – and in responding with NIT wins, not excuses – than they would have with an ignominious early NCAA Tournament exit. But their run is done, going cold late and losing to Colonial Athletic Association foe Old Dominion, 61-51, in the NIT quarterfinals last night in Hempstead.
“There’s no crying in basketball,” said Hofstra coach Tom Pecora. “I give [the Monarchs] credit. They just wanted the game more. They came in with an edge. They played like an underdog.
“We had a great dinner but we didn’t have a chance to have dessert. Going to the Garden would’ve been a great piece of pie.”
The Pride fell one game short of a marquee Garden matchup with Michigan because they shot just 23.5 percent in the second half, and – down 54-51 in a one-possession game with 2:13 to play – they missed their final half-dozen shots.
“We said all week we’re not going to win just because it’s in our building,” said Pecora, whose Pride (26-7) saw their 21-game home-win streak end.
“We’re going to win because you bring the fight to them, because you play harder than your opponent, and it didn’t happen.”
The Pride didn’t win because ODU guard Isaiah Hunter scored a career-high 29 points on 10-of-19 shooting. After torching them for 28 in 2004, and missing the second of ODU’s two losses to Hofstra this season due to a stress fracture, Hunter – who is from South Jamaica and has Born NY tattooed on his shoulder – was dominant last night.
Guards Loren Stokes, Antoine Agudio and Carlos Rivera – who’ve combined for 56.7 ppg this season – mustered just 35 points on 14-for-51 shooting.
The Pride led 41-39 on Aurimas’ Kieza’s tip-in, but missed their next six shots and didn’t score for the next 3:50. Down 54-51, Agudio missed a 3-pointer with 1:26 left.
Still, the Pride are convinced their run proved they belonged in the Big Dance.
“We were trying to prove to the world we belonged in the NCAA Tournament,” said Agudio.
Pecora, rumored to be on Seton Hall’s radar but quite happy in Hempstead, said, “I’m going to go to my grave believing we belonged playing in that tournament. Anyone who thinks [we didn’t belong] is a fool.”
