Charles Jenkins couldn’t stop smiling. And who could blame him?
As the lone Hofstra player with a double-digit scoring average (18.4 points per game), Jenkins led the team again with 24 points last night, but this time he got help.
The problems plaguing the Pride during their five-game losing streak evaporated as five players reached double-figures in their 93-54 win over UNC-Wilmington at the Mack Sports Complex.
“We haven’t had one of those, it feels like in 100 years,” coach Tom Pecora said. “We were due. Offensively we had better spacing. We opened up the floor a lot.”
Jenkins said, “It feels very good. We were on a losing streak, but coach always tells us, ‘Tough times don’t last, but tough teams do.’ ”
Struggling through their longest losing streak in seven seasons, Hofstra opened up the second-half of conference play like a team reborn. Jumping out to a 34-9 lead behind 13-0 and 10-0 runs, the Pride (10-12, 3-7) pounced on the Seahawks (7-14, 3-7) as if they had something to prove. The truth is that they did.
“If it was a game where one or two guys got 30 or 40, I don’t know if our confidence would rise as much as it will now by us sharing the wealth and playing unselfishly,” Pecora said.
The coach had been looking for signs of improvement from the supporting cast, but he probably didn’t expect to see it all at once. Four Hofstra players scored in double-figures in the first half alone, which the Pride finished leading 54-25. The lead eventually grew to 42.
Junior forward Greg Washington surpassed his season scoring average in less than three minutes and finished with 14 points. He also added 10 blocks and eight rebounds. Freshman forward Halil Kanacevic and senior guard Cornelius Vines came off the bench, combining for 29 points and 14 rebounds.
“Gregory is the key to a lot we do. He needs to be that active,” Pecora said. “Now, it’s a matter of doing it all the time. He has to be consistent.”
Looking like he came out of a can of Red Bull, 5-foot-9 guard Chaz Williams made hustle look mandatory. The freshman set the tempo with his speed and spread the floor with keen court awareness and timely passing, contributing 11 points, five rebounds and three assists.
“We got great point guard play out of Chaz. I thought he did a good job distributing the basketball,” Pecora said. “If he’s not influencing the game with his speed, then why is he out there? He’s gotta push the ball and wear people down.”
Early on in the onslaught, chants of “MVP” reigned down from Hofstra’s student section as Jenkins stood at the free-throw line. On many nights for the Pride, it’s Jenkins or bust. But last night, a third option emerged. And Hofstra hopes it remains a viable one.