WASHINGTON (Interstat) — In a game defined by its final, frantic minute, Hofstra survived a furious Monmouth rally and a career-high scoring performance from the Hawks’ Kavion McClain to secure a 75-69 victory in a Colonial Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament quarterfinal on Tuesday night at CareFirst Arena.

The Pride, the tournament’s top seed, advanced to the semifinals by leaning on the steady hand of guard Preston Edmead and a decisive advantage at the free-throw line, overcoming a second-half surge from the eighth-seeded Hawks that erased a double-digit deficit.

Monmouth, which finished its season at 19-15, was led by McClain’s 19 points and six assists. The junior guard from Memphis, Tennessee, was instrumental in the Hawks’ comeback, hitting a trio of three-pointers in the second half. His backcourt mate, Justin Ray, added 11 points, while forwards Stefanos Spartalis and Jason Rivera-Torres each chipped in 16.

Hofstra, improving to 24-10, was paced by Edmead’s game-high 26 points. The junior from Deer Park, New York, also dished out four assists, continuing a string of strong performances that have solidified his role as the Pride’s offensive engine. Cruz Davis contributed 12 points and five assists, and the Pride’s interior depth showed with eight points apiece from Silas Sunday and Victory Onuetu.

The game’s most critical sequence unfolded in the final 60 seconds. After McClain buried a deep three-pointer to pull Monmouth within 66-69 with just 18 seconds remaining, the Hawks were forced to foul. Edmead calmly sank two free throws to push the lead back to five. McClain answered with a miraculous four-point play, drawing a foul on a three-pointer from the wing and converting the free throw to make it 71-73 with nine seconds left.

On the ensuing inbound, Hofstra’s German Plotnikov was fouled and sent to the line. The junior from Minsk, Belarus, sank both free throws with eight seconds remaining to restore a two-possession lead at 75-71. Monmouth’s last-gasp three-point attempt missed, sealing the outcome.

The decisive stretch capped a game where Hofstra consistently found answers. After Monmouth opened the second half on a 12-2 run, fueled by two McClain three-pointers, to take a 44-37 lead, the Pride responded with a 14-2 run of their own. A key component was their work on the offensive glass, where they held a 15-6 advantage, generating crucial second-chance opportunities.

While the shooting percentages were nearly identical—Monmouth shot 43.6% from the field to Hofstra’s 39.7%—the disparity at the charity stripe proved monumental. Hofstra attempted 28 free throws, making 23, while Monmouth went 14 for 20 from the line. The Pride’s efficiency on a per-possession basis was also superior, posting an offensive rating of 111.4 points per 100 possessions compared to Monmouth’s 102.2.

Monmouth’s strategy of pushing the pace was effective, as they outscored Hofstra 18-2 in fastbreak points. However, Hofstra’s half-court execution and ability to draw fouls, particularly through Edmead’s aggressive drives, ultimately controlled the game’s tempo when it mattered most.

The game was a rubber match after the teams split their regular-season meetings, each winning on their home court, with both previous contests also decided by single digits.

Hofstra moves on to face the winner of the William & Mary and Northeastern quarterfinal in Friday’s semifinal round. The Pride will seek to continue a postseason run they hope will end with the program’s first NCAA tournament berth since 2023.