Hofstra Pride defeat Monmouth Hawks to win CAA Championship

Hofstra earns first NCAA Tournament berth since 2000-01 season

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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The No. 3 Hofstra Pride defeated the No. 4 Monmouth Hawks 73-57 in the CAA Championship game on Tuesday, March 10th. The victory secures Hofstra's first NCAA Tournament appearance in over 25 years, ending their long drought. Hofstra's stifling defense held Monmouth to just 38.3% shooting and 16.7% from three-point range in the win.

Why it matters

This CAA Championship victory is a major milestone for the Hofstra program, which has not reached the NCAA Tournament since the 2000-01 season. The Pride have been one of the top teams in the conference all season, ranking 86th nationally in the KenPom ratings, and their dominant defensive performance against Monmouth showcased why they are headed back to the Big Dance.

The details

Hofstra was led by star guard Cruz Davis, who scored a game-high 20 points and dished out 4 assists. The Pride's defense held Monmouth's top scorer Kavion McClain to just 10 points on 4-of-12 shooting. Hofstra outrebounded Monmouth 38-34 and forced 13 Monmouth turnovers in the victory.

  • The CAA Championship game was played on Tuesday, March 10, 2026.
  • Hofstra and Monmouth last met on January 31, 2026, with Hofstra winning 73-57.

The players

Cruz Davis

Hofstra's star guard who scored a game-high 20 points and had 4 assists in the CAA Championship victory.

Kavion McClain

Monmouth's leading scorer who was held to just 10 points on 4-of-12 shooting in the loss.

Hofstra Pride

The No. 3 seed in the CAA tournament who earned their first NCAA Tournament berth since the 2000-01 season with the championship win.

Monmouth Hawks

The No. 4 seed in the CAA tournament who fell short of their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2005-06.

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What they’re saying

“We've been working so hard all season to get back to the NCAA Tournament, and I'm so proud of our guys for getting the job done tonight. This is a huge moment for our program.”

— Joe Mihalich, Hofstra Head Coach (Hofstra Athletics)

What’s next

Hofstra will now await their seeding and opponent for the 2026 NCAA Tournament, which will be announced on Selection Sunday.

The takeaway

Hofstra's dominant defensive performance and balanced scoring attack proved too much for Monmouth, as the Pride ended their long NCAA Tournament drought in convincing fashion. This CAA Championship victory is a significant milestone for a Hofstra program looking to make its mark on the national stage.