The Hofstra University men’s basketball team is gearing up for a tough matchup against the University of Massachusetts (UMass) this Saturday, Nov. 16. The Pride currently hold a perfect 3-0 record after a thrilling 49-48 victory over BIG EAST conference opponent Seton Hall University. Despite being the underdogs for most of the game, Hofstra managed to stage a comeback in the second half, led by sophomore guard Jean Aranguren who scored 13 points in 36 minutes of play.
On the other hand, UMass is struggling with a 1-2 start to the season, suffering back-to-back losses in their recent games. Their most recent matchup was against Louisiana Tech University in the Icons Of The Game tournament, where they fell short with a score of 76-66. Sophomore guard Jaylen Curry was a standout performer for the Minutemen, contributing 14 points in the game.
Interestingly, in all three of UMass’s games this season, the leading scorer for their opponents has been a guard. This statistic bodes well for Hofstra’s guard trio consisting of Aranguren, Jaquan Sanders, and Cruz Davis, who have been logging significant minutes on the court and leading the team in scoring with impressive averages.
UMass will be looking towards senior guard Rahsool Diggins to bounce back from a subpar performance in their last game, where he only managed to score six points and struggled with his shooting percentage. Diggins will need to regain his scoring touch, especially after his strong start to the season with high-scoring games against the University of New Hampshire and the University of West Virginia.
In head-to-head history, Hofstra has a 1-3 record against UMass, with their last meeting resulting in a victory for the Minutemen in 2022. The upcoming game between the two teams is scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m. at the Mullins Center in Amherst, Massachusetts. Fans can catch the exciting action live on ESPN+ and 88.7 FM WRHU.
As both teams prepare to face off on the court, it will be interesting to see if Hofstra can maintain their winning streak or if UMass will bounce back with a strong performance. The game promises to be a thrilling matchup between two competitive teams vying for a crucial win early in the season. Stay tuned for an exciting game of basketball between the Pride and the Minutemen.
