2021 CAA Men’s Basketball Tournament

[Wags]

10-9, HU in a seasaw start.

Already 6 lead changes in the first 5:01.

Only 3 of HU's first 9 shots from 3. I like the aggressiveness and attacking, but need to get Kante some touches inside too.

[Wags]

16-15, Hofstra.

Already at 10 lead changes now. Back and forth we go.

[EvanJ]

There first 13 scores alternated, and other than 2-2 every score gave that team the lead. When we beat them in overtime in the 2019 Semifinals, there were 11 lead changes.

[Wags]

Anderson, who didn't play in the teams' two regular-season meetings is off to a good start, but HU, showing different looks (like we've been asking for!) -- the patented 2-3, but also a 1-3-1 and man -- is keeping everyone else in check. Anderson 11 pts on 4/8 fg, but his teammates just 2/9.

Still tight. 21-20, HU.

Still at 10 lead changes, three ties.

[Wags]

There first 13 scores alternated, and other than 2-2 every score gave that team the lead. When we beat them in overtime in the 2019 Semifinals, there were 11 lead changes.

Good comparison, Evan and interesting to know in light of today's start. That game was more HU in control (with JWF mainly carrying them), then letting UD back in down the stretch of regualtion, and then winning the game primarily at the line in OT.

Today is just a tennis match, back and forth.

[EvanJ]

We lead 23-22. We got to 7 fouls early, and Delaware committed 2 in 3 seconds to get to 6. We have the ball up 23-22 with 7:58 left in the half. Dylan Painter has 2 points, 1 rebound, 2 missed free throws, and 2 fouls.

[Wags]

Only 3 of HU's first 9 shots from 3. I like the aggressiveness and attacking, but need to get Kante some touches inside too.

While Ray has 5 pts on just 2/7 fg, Kante leads HU with 6 pts on 3/3 fg - USE HIM.

Delaware just went up again, 24-23. Make that 11 lead changes now.

[Wags]

As good as those family intros were, how about this for inspiration?
https://twitter.com/CAABasketball/statu ... 1958260738

[Polito]

Ray not having a good half... as has been so typical of him unfortunately. BUT hoping that means he'll be ready to own the game in the 2nd, as has also been very typical for him!

Tight game, sloppy at times as expected, but not 'terrible' on either side, just battling after weeks off.

[Wags]

Ray not having a good half... as has been so typical of him unfortunately. BUT hoping that means he'll be ready to own the game in the 2nd, as has also been very typical for him!

Tight game, sloppy at times as expected, but not 'terrible' on either side, just battling after weeks off.

We're used to the 3/9 fg, but 2/5 at the line? Can't leave those points there in a really tight game like this. Not just him either - Kante 1/3, Burgess 1/2 FTs.

[triplec2195]

Ray not having a good half... as has been so typical of him unfortunately. BUT hoping that means he'll be ready to own the game in the 2nd, as has also been very typical for him!

Tight game, sloppy at times as expected, but not 'terrible' on either side, just battling after weeks off.

We're used to the 3/9 fg, but 2/5 at the line? Can't leave those points there in a really tight game like this. Not just him either - Kante 1/3, Burgess 1/2 FTs.

Just about to post this we missed three front ends 2 by Ray and another by Kante. Kante looking rusty from the F.T. line but thought good hustle in that half and getting a lot of intensity from Cramer and Schutte who had big minutes. Coburn you need to show up in the second half and we need to hit F.T's.

[Wags]

Delaware up 38-36 at the break.

Can't get much tighter than that first half:

9 ties, 17 lead changes
Hofstra's biggest lead: 4
Delaware's biggest lead: 2

Hens are just 7/23 outside of Anderson's 4/10 (11 pts).
Just 7 minutes for Coburn with his 2 PFs - must keep him on the floor and he's got to knock down at least a couple 3s and/or get to the line.
Burgess surprisingly HU's leading rebounder with 7 (already a career-high).
HU just 6/12 at the line (UD 11/15).

[HUSID80]

MAKE FREAKIN FREE THROWS!!!!!

[EvanJ]

We trail 38-36 at halftime that ended with Silverio missing. Coburn committed his second foul with 13:19 left and did not return. Masic hasn't played. Silverio played all 13:19 after Coburn left, and I wonder if that's the longest continuous playing time he's ever had. Ray led all scorers with 12, but he shot 4-11 and shot free throws 3-7. We shot free throws 6-12 and missed the first of a one-and-one twice. Burgess is on pace for a double-double with single-digit points. He has 4 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists. Kante had 7 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 blocks. He didn't miss a field goal, but made only 1 of 3 free throws. Cramer and Coburn tied Burgess with 4 points. Cramer had 5 rebounds, but Coburn didn't have any positive contributions other than points. Silverio made a three 25 seconds after entering and shot 0-2 after that. Schutte had 2 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 block. Burgess and Ray played the whole half.

It must be rare to make only one-third of your field goals in a half when you score 38 and weren't intentionally fouled at the end, but that's what Delaware did. Delaware shot threes 5-10 and twos 6-23 = .261. Kevin Anderson leads Delaware with 11. He made all 3 threes and 1 of 7 twos including getting his own rebound and missing by the basket. Ryan Allen, Dylan Painter, and Johnny McCoy have 7, and three Delaware players have 2. Allen shot 2-7 and had only 1 rebound and 1 assist. Painter had 5 rebounds. McCoy had 4 rebounds and 3 assists. He exceeded his season averages of 4.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.7 assists. Andrew Carr had 2 points, 1 rebound, and 2 fouls. Delaware had only 3 turnovers.

Edit: Starting with the last 2 points of the first half, Delaware went on a 7-0 run to go up 43-36. We're on a 9-0 run to lead 45-43, but Ray fouled Allen in the act of shooting a three, and he could give Delaware the lead after the media timeout. We had a 4 point possession when Kante made a free throw, missed the second, knocked the rebound to Ray, Burgess had a shot a blocked, and Coburn made a three. It's Ray's third foul, and the announcers said Allen moved into Ray.

[Hofstra]

MAKE FREAKIN FREE THROWS!!!!!

Brutal today. Hopefully we are saving the makes for the stretch run. Sheesh tho

[Wags]

Delaware scores the first five of the second half to no up seven, but HU answers with the next nine to lead 45-43.

However, a questionable whistle has really hurt lately. Coburn, Ray and Cramer all with 3 PFs each with 15:55 still left. The D is going to suffer now because they're not going to be able to guard as well, each afraid to get that 4th PF too soon. This is going to be tricky.

[Hofstra]

Lets gooooooo!!! We outchea!!!!

Monster run. Up 7 now

[EvanJ]

Ray made threes 56 seconds apart to give us our largest lead at 54-47 with 12:24 left and make Delaware call timeout.

[Wags]

Ray heating up. Just hit a couple of big 3s to give HU its biggest lead, 54-47, with 12:24 left.

Hofstra has outscored Delaware 18-4 since Delaware started the second half with the first five points to go up seven. So that run has reversed the game, from a 7-pt deficit to a 7-pt lead.

[Wags]

Ray (game-high 23 on 8/16) is 5/7 after starting 3/9.

Anderson hit a couple 3s to get that 7-pt lead down to one. Ray answered with a bucket. 56-53, HU. Fasten your seatbelts down the stretch.

Hope this doesn't come down to HU FTs in the end, because that could be some real nervous time. They're 6/14 today.