Rams Open Season at Division I Hofstra

Hofstra University - 87, Farmingdale State - 48

Hempstead, N.Y. - Junior Nathaniel Lester (Brooklyn, NY) set a season-high with 21 points and senior Miklos Szabo (Szeghalom, Hungary) recorded his second career double-double to lead the Hofstra Men's Basketball team to an 87-48 victory over Farmingdale State in the Rams season opener Friday night at the Mack Sports Complex.

Four Pride players scored in double figures as Hofstra evened its record at 2-2 after dropping two games on the road to nationally ranked teams (No. 1 Kansas on Nov. 13 and No. 12 Connecticut on Nov. 17). Farmingdale State opened its season at 0-1.

The Pride held the Rams to just 28.8 percent shooting from the field. Hofstra's victory margin was its largest since defeating Northeastern by 39 points during the 1999-00 season.

Despite the margin, Farmingdale trailed Hofstra 23-21 with 10 minutes left in the first half, before the Pride went on a 28-7 run to close out the half with a 53-28 lead. The Rams held Hofstra to 34 points in the second half. Sophomore guard James Ockimey (Hempstead, NY) led the Rams with 11 points and eight rebounds, while senior forward Terrence Howard (Queens, NY) finished with nine points.

Szabo scored 10 points and added 11 rebounds. Yves Jules (Brooklyn, NY) contributed 12 points off the bench for the first scoring of his collegiate career, while fellow freshman Chaz Williams (Brooklyn, NY) chipped in a career-high 11 points and nine assists as a reserve. Hofstra's bench out-scored Farmingdale State, 34-13.

Junior guard Charles Jenkins (Queens, NY) left the game with 6:20 left in the first half after landing hard on the floor. Jenkins stayed on the court momentarily before the training staff helped him to the locker room. Jenkins returned to the bench for the second half, but did not see any action after scoring nine points on 3-3 shooting, ending a streak of 21 straight games in double figures.

Like Jules, freshman Matt Grogan (Middle Village, NY) scored the first points of his collegiate career, drilling a late second-half three-pointer to put Hofstra ahead, 78-39.

Hofstra Head Coach Tom Pecora had his first head coaching job at Farmingdale State from 1989-92, when it was a two-year school. Pecora compiled a 62-24 record in three seasons with the Rams, including a 20-9 record and a Region XV championship in 1991-92, before leaving to take an assistant coaching position at UNLV under Rollie Massimino in 1992-93, along with Jay Wright.

Hofstra improved to 7-4 in the all-time series against Farmingdale. The previous contest between the two schools came during the 1944-45 season.

Farmingdale State will host Baruch College in their home opener this Tuesday, November 24th at 7:00 p.m.

(Story courtesy of Hofstra Sports Information)

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