Strong Second Half Propels Hofstra Past Bucknell Men's Basketball, 83-77

LEWISBURG, Pa. -- Preston Edmead scored 18 of his game-high 23 points in the second half to key Hofstra's come-from-behind 83-77 win over Bucknell on Friday evening at Sojka Pavilion. The Bison, who were paced by 15 points apiece from Ruot Bijiek, Amon Dörries and Jayden Williams, took a 45-34 lead early in the second half, but Edmead's back-to-back 3-pointers ignited a 49-point second half for the Pride.

The Bison dropped their second straight game after a 2-0 start, while Hofstra now has two straight wins after an 0-2 start. Bucknell led in many of the statistical categories but were hampered by 17 miscues, which led to a 26-12 edge in points off turnovers for the Pride.

The Bison outscored Hofstra 22-14 over the 7:43 of the first half and took a 41-34 lead into the locker room. Two free throws from Bijiek and a driving layup by Williams pushed that lead to 11 just over a minute into the second half, but after a quick timeout, Hofstra got right back in the game. The two straight Edmead threes ignited a 10-0 run in less than two minutes.

Edmead later made all three free throws after being fouled on a long-range attempt, and then he assisted on a three by Biggie Patterson that gave Hofstra a 50-47 lead. Bucknell led once more at 53-52 on a Williams bucket in the lane, but Edmead connected on another trey on the next possession to give the Pride the lead for good.

The margin swelled to as many as 14 after two free throws by German Plotnikov with 7:50 to go, but the Bison made a game of it down the stretch. Achile Spadone's 3-pointer cut it to four at 79-75 with 1:41 to go, and then after a defensive stop, Spadone's three attempt that would have cut the deficit to one rattled in and out. That was the first of four straight misses for Bucknell, and Hofstra made enough free throws to ice the game.

Bucknell outrebounded Hofstra 35-33 and led 20-8 in second-chance points. The Bison shot 42.4 percent from the field and 9-for-28 from the arc, but they had a good night at the foul line, hitting 18 of 21. The Pride finished at 45.6 percent from the field and went 10-for-24 from the arc (6-for-12 in the second half) and 21-for-32 from the foul line.

All five Hofstra starters scored in double figures. In addition to Edmead's 23, Cruz Davis scored 18, Patterson had 17, Plotnikov scored 10, and Victory Onuetu registered a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds.

Bucknell led 19-4 in bench points and received solid minutes from Aleksander Pachucki (five points, two assists, two rebounds), Josh Fulton (four points, two rebounds), and Jacob Meachem (four points, two assists). Meachem recorded his first collegiate points in a season-high nine minutes of action.

Bucknell alum and Naismith Hall-of-Famer Jay Wright '83 attended the game and spoke with the team afterward. Wright was also Hofstra's head coach from 1994-2001.

Bucknell's tough early season schedule continues next week with games at Pittsburgh on Monday and St. John's on Thursday.

Strong Second Half Propels Hofstra Past Bucknell Men's Basketball, 83-77

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Team Stats

Jayden Williams

Ruot Bijiek

Amon Dörries

Achile Spadone

Players Mentioned

Ruot Bijiek

Josh Fulton

Jacob Meachem

Aleksander Pachucki

Achile Spadone

Jayden Williams