Hofstra Basketball: Dramatic CAA Tournament Wins Earn “Clutch U” Title
A week of improbable finishes culminated in championships for both the Hofstra University men’s and women’s basketball teams, cementing a remarkable run in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) Tournament. The victories, secured with last-second shots in both title games, have led some to dub the program “Clutch U.”
The men’s team began their tournament journey with a dominant 92-61 victory over the College of William & Mary on March 9, their highest-scoring performance against a Division I opponent this season. Cruz Davis, the CAA Player of the Year, led the Pride with 30 points. Their semifinal matchup against Towson University proved a far greater challenge. Tied at 52 with four minutes remaining, the game remained a tense back-and-forth affair, eventually heading to overtime.
In overtime, Hofstra freshman Preston Edmead emerged as an unlikely hero. After Tyler Tejada of Towson tied the game with an and-one, fouling out Davis in the process, Edmead responded with a 28-foot 3-pointer to supply Hofstra a late lead. After another tie, Jaquan Womack put Towson ahead with 20 seconds left. With 0.3 seconds on the clock, Edmead, a Long Island native from Deer Park, secured the win with a contested 27-foot 3-pointer. “It means so much being a kid from Long Island,” Edmead said after the game. “This program is based in Long Island; it means everything. I wouldn’t want to win with anyone besides this team.”
The women’s team mirrored the men’s success, defeating Northeastern University in their semifinal game before facing Towson in the CAA Championship on March 12. The women’s final was a closely contested affair, with neither team able to establish a significant lead through the first three quarters. Towson’s India Johnston ignited in the fourth quarter, scoring 14 points, including three 3-pointers, to give the Tigers a late advantage.
Trailing by two with 19 seconds remaining, Hofstra’s Emma Von Essen delivered a moment of her own. Finding herself open after a double screen, Von Essen stepped back and knocked down a 3-pointer with 2.6 seconds left on the clock, securing the championship for the Pride. “My teammates and my coaches just had confidence in me,” Von Essen said. “They drew [the play] up for me, and I was like ‘Now I gotta hit this shot.’ This is the best feeling in the world for me; I’m never gonna sense this as a senior again.”
Both game-winning shots were made by Hofstra guards from Long Island – Edmead and Von Essen, both hitting step-back 3-pointers from the wing. Hofstra head coach Speedy Claxton, a former NBA champion with the San Antonio Spurs and a Hofstra alumnus, has overseen the program’s recent success, earning CAA Coach of the Year honors in 2023. Claxton was named head coach in 2021 after serving as an assistant coach since 2013. The men’s and women’s teams both entered their championship matchups following decisive victories in the semifinal round.