Nov. 27, 2011
Box Score
Postgame Comments: Coach Jones | P. Hazel
KINGSTON, R.I. - Playing a third straight day for the first time since 1994, the Boston University men's basketball team finished on a 21-7 run to defeat Hofstra, 68-61, on Sunday afternoon at Rhode Island's Ryan Center. Shooting 47 percent from the field in the final game of the TicketCity Legends Classic, the Terriers improve to 2-4, while the Pride drops to 3-4.
Scoring 18 consecutive points for BU over an eight-minute stretch, senior Darryl Partin led the Terriers with 25 points, while classmate Patrick Hazel recorded his first-career double-double with 11 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks. Sophomore D.J. Irving tallied 15 points, and senior Matt Griffin came off the bench to contribute seven points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals.
After scoring 17 points in the first half off 6-of-10 shooting, Hofstra's Mike Moore went 3-of-7 in the second to end the game with a game-high 27 points and 11 rebounds. David Imes was the second leading scorer at nine points.
In a contest that featured eight ties and five lead changes, points off turnovers proved to be a key statistic, as the Terriers scored 22 off 16 Hofstra turnovers, including 14 in the second half. The Pride only managed seven points off 12 BU miscues.
The former America East rivals battled back and forth in the first half with Hofstra grabbing an early 14-9 lead following a 3-pointer by Moore at 13:39. Irving quickly erased the deficit with a layup, a steal and an assist on Griffin's trey.
The Pride took a 33-31 lead into the locker room after shooting 10-of-13 at the free throw line and getting three treys from Moore, while BU's Partin was 0-of-4 from beyond the arc.
A 2011 America East All-Conference First Team honoree, Partin would miss two jumpers to open the second half but would quickly get into an offensive groove. Trailing 41-33, he drained four 3-pointers during the next five possessions to put BU even at 45-45 with 13:01 left in regulation.
Hofstra responded with a 3-pointer by Moore and four points from Shemiye Nwaukoni off a layup and two made free throws over the next five minutes to lead 54-47 at 7:43.
With the Pride focusing on Partin, Irving found sophomore Travis Robinson open for a 3-pointer and then hit one of his own at 6:50 to cut the deficit to one.
With 3:22 remaining, Griffin turned the momentum around by picking Shemiye McLendon's pocket and finding Irving for the layup and the 57-56 lead. On the next possession, Moore missed a jumper, and Griffin grabbed the rebound while getting fouled. He hit both free throws and would later add two more at 1:23 to give the Terriers a 63-57 advantage.
Hofstra would try to mount a rally, but Irving earned his second steal of the game and got the quick layup with 13 seconds left to put BU ahead, 67-61. Named to the All Sub-Regional Team, Partin would add one more free throw for the final score.
Averaging 23.0 ppg during the three games, Partin has recorded at least 20 points in five of BU's six games this season. Another vital contributor during the tournament, Hazel recorded two blocks against Hofstra to finish with 10 for the weekend and now ranks tied-for-seventh all-time at BU with 75 blocks in just 41 games played.
Facing their third straight former conference foe, the Terriers will return home on Wednesday (Nov. 30) to host Delaware at Case Gym with action slated to begin at 7 p.m.
