By Max Sass, Sports Editor
RICHMOND, VA - The magic ran out for the Hofstra men's basketball team Saturday night as they fell to Northeastern 74-71 in double overtime. The Huskies needed a 4-0 run over the last 2:22 of regulation to force the first overtime. The next five minutes were even more exciting as senior guard Cornelius Vines hit a three-pointer with 14 seconds left to keep the Pride alive.
It took a three-pointer by senior guard Matt Janning with 45 seconds left in double overtime to win the game for the Huskies. A few foul shots by the Huskies were needed to seal the victory, but the number two seed Northeastern was forced into a battle with the seventh seeded Pride. "This exemplifies March Madness," said Northeaster head coach Bill Coen.
"Our inexperience just poked it's head out enough," said head coach Tom Pecora following the loss. CAA All-Rookie team members guard Chaz Williams and forward Halil Kanacevic combined for 16 points, but 8 turnovers as well.
Vines, who played his last game in a Hofstra uniform had a box of tissues on the bench and was flanked by Williams and junior guard Charles Jenkins who were each equally emotional.
"I just didn't want it to be over," said Vines. "I promised them I would give them everything I had." Jenkins sat at the press conference with his head down and his hands over his eyes. "I hate losing, especially when it's times like this," he said.
Jenkins play backed up his CAA Player of the Year honor, scoring 24 points with eight rebounds and four assists in 49 minutes of play. Northeastern's Matt Janning was 3-13 from the floor at one point in the game, but finished 6-16, hitting his last three shots to down the Pride.
Hofstra finishes the season 19-14 and 11-9 in conference after starting out CAA play with a 2-7 record. Saturday's game against Northeastern was the third matchup between the two teams, with each team winning a game in the regular season.
The Pride travels back to Hempstead on Sunday to finish up the spring semester and prepare for a possible post-season tournament invite. The plan is to "rest our bodies, get ourselves iced up and we will be back on floor on Tuesday," Pecora said.
Junior guard Charles Jenkins scored 24 points in the Pride's double overtime loss to Northeastern at the Richmond Coliseum. (Sean M. Gates/ The Chronicle)