Men's Basketball | 12/31/2022 8:53:00 AM

RADIO: Brian Holloway will bring the live action from Hempstead, NY on 1400 AM and 96.3 FM. You can hear him online at tobaccoroadsportsradio.com. 

NORTH CAROLINA A&T AGGIES STORYLINES 

• The Aggies remain in the northeast part of the United States as they will bring in 2023 in Hempstead, NY, which occupies the southwestern part of Nassau County on the western part of Long Island. 
•  A&T returns to Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) action this afternoon after losing their initial CAA game to Northeastern Thursday night in Boston. 
• The Aggies trailed by 14 at halftime only to cut Northeastern's lead to three with 7:39 remaining in the game. But the Huskies outscored the Aggies 25-16 from there to win, as Jahmyl Telfort had a career-high 31 points for Northeastern. 
• Sophomore guard Kam Woods led the Aggies with 23 points, including 17 in the second half. 
• It marked the third time that he has scored 20-plus points in a game this season. It also marked the second time Woods has played 40-plus minutes in a contest this season. 
• Freshman forward Duncan Powell also had an excellent night by grabbing seven rebounds and coming away with a career-high 17 points. It marked the first time he scored in double figures in his career. Powell drew five fouls and was 7-for-10 from the free throw line and 5-for-7 from the field. 
• Senior forward Jeremy Robinson once again stepped into the starting lineup for 6-foot-9 Austin Johnson on Thursday. Johnson missed his third straight game with an injury. 
• Robinson has been solid in his new role. Robinson scored 11 points on 5-for-7 shooting against the Huskies to reach double figures for the fourth straight game. 
• The Aggies hope to have Johnson back after the New Year. It will be vital to get him back in the lineup for his size, scoring ability, and rebounding ability, and he is a strong presence on the defensive end. 
• Plus, the Aggies have two bigs out for the season in 6-11 Harry Morrice and 6-9 Will Felton. 
• With A&T's lack of size, they have come to rely on the 3-point shot. That shot was ineffective Thursday night in Boston as the Aggies went 3-for-13 from a distance. They came into the game averaging 9.5 3-pointers made per game. 
• Meanwhile, the Huskies used the 3-point shot against A&T, going 12-for-21 from 20 feet and beyond. 
• A&T's main two outside shooters this season have been Demetric Horton and Woods. Woods leads the conference in 3-point attempts (106), 3-pointers made per game (2.92) and total 3-pointers made (38). 
• Horton leads the conference and ranks 10th in the nation 3-point percentage (.486). He is fourth in the CAA in 3-pointers made (35).  
• Phillip Shumpert is the Aggies head coach on an interim basis. He took over the program for Will Jones in August. He missed three games with COVID but returned to earn the big win over UNCG. 
• Shumpert has been a significant part in helping the Aggies recruit some of their talent. 
• Shumpert took over on an interim basis in August. Shumpert has coached on many levels, including high school, Division II, junior college and Division I, and has head coaching experience on the junior college level for five years. 

 SCOUTING THE HOFSTRA PRIDE HUSKIES

• Hofstra likes to play fast, up-tempo basketball, and the Pride's guard play is exceptional. 
• The Pride lost four straight from Nov. 30-Dec. 19 starting with an overtime loss to George Mason and ending with a seven-point loss to South Florida. 
• The Pride also lost to Purdue and UMass during that span. But they have rebounded to win two straight, including Thursday's 87-73 win over Delaware. 
• CAA preseason player of the year Aaron Estrada finished with 31 points on 11-for-17 shooting. Tyler Thomas, a 6-foot-3 guard out of New Haven, Conn., added 20 points and five rebounds while playing 40 minutes. 
• Hofstra's floor general, Jaquan Carlos (6-0, guard, Brooklyn, NY), had 10 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. 
• Estrada (6-3, guard, Woodbury, N.J.) leads the conference in scoring (22.5 ppg). He is second in the conference in shooting percentage (.533) and ranks sixth in assists (3.8). 
• Carlos is fifth in the league in assists (4.3) and second in assist-to-turnover ratio. Thomas averages 12.8 points per game, and preseason honorable mention CAA performer Darlinstone Dubar averages 11.6 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. 
• Former NBA guard Speedy Claxton leads the Pride. Claxton is in his second season. In his first season, he led the Pride to a 21-11 mark overall and a 13-5 record in the CAA. 
• Claxton played for Hofstra from 1996-00 before becoming a first-round draft pick (20th overall) of the Philadelphia 76ers in 2000. He also spent time in San Antonio, Golden State, New Orleans and Atlanta. 

 THE SERIES                 

• Hofstra leads the all-time series, 1-0. 
• The two teams only meeting came on November 14, 2018, in Hempstead. The Pride came away with a 92-72 win. 
• The Pride shot 54 percent from the field and forced A&T into 19 turnovers.