Stony Brook ends Hofstra's eight-game winning streak

Hofstra showed up for the latest installment of the Battle of Long Island on a lengthy run, having claimed eight straight wins. Stony Brook showed up on a run in the wrong direction, falling six times in seven games.

But the Seawolves turned in an outstanding game Thursday night at Stony Brook Arena and cooled Hofstra’s hot hands.

Stony Brook had turned over a 24-point second-half lead in last Saturday’s loss to UNC Wilmington, but this time it withstood several charges and beat the Pride, 76-71.

“This matters,” Seawolves coach Geno Ford said. “We need to play well against them . . . We played so hard.”

Stony Brook has the hot hands in this rivalry, having won four straight dating to the 2023-24 season, but Hofstra still owns an overall 28-10 advantage.

Richard Goods delivered 20 points, eight rebounds and six assists and Andrej Shoshkikj also scored 20 for Stony Brook (10-9, 2-4 CAA). Erik Pratt added 18.

Preston Edmead, the freshman guard from Deer Park, had 22 points and eight rebounds for the Pride (13-5, 4-1). Cruz Davis contributed 16 points, all in the second half, including career No. 1,000.

“Give credit to them,” Hofstra coach Speedy Claxton said. “They played well. It’s their Super Bowl.”

Stony Brook led this first of two regular-season meetings 45-33 with about 4 1⁄2 minutes gone in the second half, but it would get a lot closer.

When Edmead sank his fourth three-pointer, the Seawolves’ lead was down to 73-68 with 22 seconds remaining.

“He’s terrific,” Ford said. “They did such a good job evaluating, recruiting, getting him and developing him . . . If you want to see him next year, I suggest you buy the Big East package.”

After Pratt made one of two free throws, German Plotnikov was fouled on a three-pointer with 10.7 seconds left and canned his three free throws — 74-71. But Shoshkikj nailed two free throws at 8.7 to clinch it.

“We’ve got to shake it off,” Edmead said.

The 12-point lead twice had been cut to five before that final minute. After the second occasion, Pratt scored in the lane and Goods made a three, pushing it to 57-47 with 7:23 to go.

Hofstra cut it to seven, but the Seawolves moved ahead 62-50 with 6:00 on the clock after another three by Goods.

A.J. Wills’ three-pointer cut Hofstra’s deficit to 62-56, but Shoshkikj countered with a three-point play and Pratt converted from in close, making it an 11-point margin with just under four minutes left.

“Just the urge to win,” Goods said. “Playing a rival and going in, you hear certain things on the internet and stuff . . . just calling you ‘little bro’ — you go in with a little more fire.”

After Stony Brook took a 12-3 lead, Hofstra went ahead 19-18, but the Seawolves led 32-25 at the break.

“I think we lost this game in the first half,” Claxton said. “We had a tough start.”