USD Has Another Big Night, Beats Hofstra, 78-49

If the Toreros continue to play like they have in the last two games of 1990, 1991 will be a glorious year for the University of San Diego men’s basketball team.

The Toreros have been downright dominating in the past two games, routing Hofstra University, 78-49, Monday night after whipping Canisius, 91-75, Saturday.

With the victory Monday in front of 365 at the USD Sports Center, USD improved to 7-4.

USD came out hot, scoring the first 10 points, and stayed that way, shooting 51.7% for the game, the Toreros’ second brilliant shooting night in a row.

Kelvin Woods scored 14 of his game-high 18 points in the first half along with four of his game-high six rebounds. Wayman Strickland was the only other Torero in double-figure scoring with 10 points, all in the first half. Errol Flanigan led Hofstra (4-7), with 10 points.

Pat Holbert, the Toreros’ leading scorer coming in at 16.8 points per game, had only nine points but a good game nonetheless because of his defensive play.

The entire USD team, in fact, deserved a pat on the back for its defense. The Toreros’ in-your-face man-to-man for the second game in a row caused fits for opposing shooters.

Canisius made only 34.2% of its shots Saturday. Hofstra barely topped that at 34.6% (18 of 52).

“That’s the key. We know that,” Holbert said. “The last two games we’ve been getting after guys (on defense), and it’s paid off with two big wins.”

Said USD Coach Hank Egan, “The last two nights, we’ve played pretty decent man-to-man. I think the other night we might have played better but tonight we sustained it with a team that tried to control the tempo.”

Butch van Breda Kolff, a former NBA coach in his second stint with Hofstra and 25th year of college coaching, didn’t have to watch any more when he received his second technical foul with 8:59 left.

The Toreros more than doubled Hofstra’s offensive output in the first half, taking a 41-19 lead into the locker room after Strickland buried a 22-foot three-pointer at the buzzer.

Strickland’s shot, his 10th point of the half, typified the kind of night it was for the Toreros. Everything, it seemed, went right.

USD scored the first 10 points and after taking a 16-6 lead 7:06 into the game, never led by less than 10.

Anthony Thomas started things with a steal and breakaway dunk at 19:34. Then Dondi Bell slammed one at 19:00 for a 4-0 lead. Woods made an eight-foot turnaround jump shot, Strickland an offensive rebound layup off his own missed shot and Bell another slam to complete USD’s best start this season.

Hofstra didn’t score until 15:04. It didn’t reach 10 points until 9:22 and 20 until 17:59 left in the second half. That was after USD scored the first eight points of the second half to go up 49-19.

“We’ve upped the intensity a little, and we’re starting to believe defense is the foundation for what we have to do,” Egan said.

USD plays host to Colorado Wednesday, and begins West Coast Conference play Saturday against Santa Clara.