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Long Island men’s college basketball teams Hofstra and Stony Brook entered the 2023 Colonial Athletic Association Tournament in Washington, D.C. — now only one remains.
Hofstra, the top-seeded team in the conference, continued its tear in the playoffs, knocking off No. 8 William & Mary in the quarterfinals on Sunday at Entertainment & Sports Arena.
The Speed Claxton-led team won in dominate fashion, defeating The Tribe 94-46 — the largest margin of victory in the tournament’s history. This was also the 12th consecutive victory for Hofstra.
The Pride’s Aaron Estrada, the 2022-23 CAA Player of the Year, had 22 points and 10 rebounds in the game. Tyler Thomas also scored 22 for Hofstra.
Hofstra takes on No. 4 UNC Wilmington on Monday, March 6, at 6 p.m. in the seminfinals.
For No. 10 Stony Brook, their season came to an end on Sunday. The Seawolves were beat down by No. 2 Charleston, 74-52.
Stony Brook’s Keenan Fitzmorris finished the quarterfinals match with 18 points (11-22). Toby Onyekonwu added 10 points, eight rebounds and four assists for the Seawolves.
This was Stony Brook’s first year in the conference, after spending over two decades in the America East.
While Hofstra and Stony Brook are on different paths this postseason, new conference rivals were born in 2022.
The Long Island neighbors have battled in exhibition matches in the past, but this season was the first time they shared the same conference. The Seawolves joined the American East in 2001, the year The Pride left for the CAA.
In the Long Island turf war this season, Nassau went 2-0.
The first game — played Feb 4. — was a blowout win for Hofstra. The Pride won 79-58.
Two weeks later for the second meeting, things got much more interesting. The Seawolves would lead at the half, 33-27, but Hofstra rallied for a nail-biting 68-65 finish.
Hofstra has an all-time record of 21-5 over its Long Island neighbor. The Seawolves last win came in 2021 after defeating The Pride 79-62 home at Island Federal Arena.
2023 CAA remaining bracket
CAA Tournament semifinals, Monday, March 6 in Washington, D.C.
- No. 1 Hofstra vs. No. 4 UNC Wilmington at 6 p.m. (CBS Sports Network)
- No. 2 Charleston vs. No. 3 Towson at 8:30 p.m. (CBS Sports Network)
CAA Tournament finals, Tuesday, March 7 in Washington, D.C.
- Winners of semifinals matches will face each other at 7 p.m. (CBS Sports Network)
To note: Winner of the CAA Tournament will win an automatic bid to the 2023 March Madness Tournament.
Top: Hofstra star guard Aaron Estrada (#1) driving the ball up court on Sunday in the CAA Tournament quarterfinals against William & Mary. (Credit: Hofstra University/ Facebook)
