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UD mens basketball team will host Towson Feb. 7
The Fightin Blue Hens will try to bounce back with a home game against Towson University at 2 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 7, at the Bob Carpenter Sports/Convocation Center. The Hens lost at Towson 70-68 on Jan. 10. In Wednesdays game, sophomore guard Rulon Washington kept the Hens in the game with a career-high 20 points, including six three-pointers. Unfortunately, Hofstra's Aurimas Kieza countered with two three-pointers of his own in the final three minutes for the win. Kieza, who entered the game with just seven three-pointers all season, finished with a team-high 16 points and four three-pointers, including consecutive treys in the final three minutes that broke a late 48-48 tie and gave Hofstra the lead for good. Washington connected on six three-pointers, including three in the final minute, as the Hens fell to 12-8 overall and 6-5 in the CAA. UD junior forward Robin Wentt enjoyed his finest career day with 17 points and 14 rebounds. Mike Ames finished with 11 points and became UD's all-time career three-point leader when he connected on his 112th late in the first half. Ames broke the mark set by Kestutis Marciulionis (1996-2000). Kieza also led the Hofstra (9-12 overall, 5-6 in the CAA) with eight rebounds, while Loren Stokes chipped in with 14 points and six assists and Kenny Adeleke added 10 points and seven rebounds. UD outrebounded Hofstra 48-32 but committed 26 turnovers and shot just 38.3 percent from the field. "Rulon hit some big shots and really put us back in the game," UD Head Coach David Henderson said, "but I was really disappointed in some of our veteran perimeter players and I've never felt like that before. I give Hofstra credit for playing a good game, but it was all what we did to ourselves tonight. We didn't get the effort we expected." The Hens ran out to an early 10-point lead but Hofstra rallied to cut the lead to 26-23 at the half. Hofstra remained hot in the second half and took a 39-30 lead with 11:27 remaining. Backed by Washington's 14 second-half points, the Hens rallied and finally tied the game at 48-48 with just under four minutes remaining. But Kieza went to work and put Hofstra ahead for good when he hit consecutive three-pointers less than a minute apart for a 54-48 lead. Washington followed with a three-pointer to cut the lead to three but Stokes hit three free throws and Gibran Washington added another to push the lead back up to 58-53 with 40 seconds remaining. Again Washington came through as he drained a three-pointer to cut the lead to 58-56 but Kieza followed with two free throws and the lead was back to 60-56. Washington answered again with a long three but Kieza followed with two more shots from the charity stripe for a 62-59 lead. The Hens had a chance to tie but an Ames three-pointer went in and out and Adeleke was fouled on the rebound. Adeleke hit one three free throw to increase the lead to 63-59 with 10 seconds remaining, sealing the win for Hofstra. To learn how to subscribe to UDaily, click here. |