Box Score HEMPSTEAD N.Y.  – A late surge by Hofstra led to an 80-69 setback for the Elon men's basketball team on Saturday, Feb. 7, in Colonial Athletic Association action at the Mack Sports Complex.
 
Elon (11-14, 3-9 CAA) rallied with a 9-0 run midway through the second half to take a one-point lead after consecutive threes by Austin Hamilton and Tanner Samson pushed the Phoenix out to a 58-57 advantage – its first since the 10:09 mark of the opening session.
 
However, Hofstra (16-9, 7-5 CAA) answered quickly with a 7-0 spurt to regain the lead following miscues by the Phoenix, eventually going ahead by as many as 14 points down the stretch.
 
Elon put three in double figures in the loss, led by Hamilton's team-best 21 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the floor, including a 3-of-5 clip from deep. Elijah Bryant added 15 points and five boards, while Samson finished with 12 points on four makes from deep.
 
"The guys really competed tonight," said Elon head coach Matt Matheny. "We've come a long way since our January game against Hofstra, but we still have a lot to learn. We had a couple possessions where we turned it over and led to their run. If we continue to work to improve, good things will happen to this team this year."
 
Just prior to halftime, Bryant knocked down his first triple of the game to it at 37-all with under a minute to play. But the Pride carried a two-point edge, 39-37, into the locker room at the break after Dion Nesmith knocked down two free throws with 5.2 seconds on the clock.
 
Nesmith led all players with 22 points on the night, while Ameen Tanksley added 18 for the Pride, who shot 45 percent from the floor.
 
After knocking down 14 threes at Elon last month, the Phoenix limited the Pride to 8-of-23 (35 percent) shooting from beyond the arc tonight.
 
The two teams went into the locker room tied on the boards at 17-all, but Hofstra controlled the glass in the second session to finish the night up eight, 38-30, in rebounding.
 
Elon returns to action on Wednesday night, Feb. 11, at William & Mary.