Wright St., Hofstra Win Conference Finals in Dramatic Fashion

Raiders rally from 12 down, Pride freshman hits key 3-pointer to advance to NCAA Tournament

Mar. 11, 2026 at 8:49am

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Top-seeded Wright State rallied from a 12-point deficit in the final 10 minutes to defeat third-seed Detroit Mercy 66-63 in the Horizon League championship game. Freshman Preston Edmead scored 26 points, including a key 3-pointer late, to lead third-seeded Hofstra past fourth-seeded Monmouth 75-69 in the CAA title game.

Why it matters

The wins send Wright State and Hofstra to the NCAA Tournament, with Wright State making its first appearance since 2022 and Hofstra returning for the first time since 2001 after its 2020 title was overruled by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The details

In the Horizon League final, TJ Burch scored 16 of his 19 points in the second half to lead Wright State's comeback. Kellen Pickett added 17 points and Michael Imariagbe had 12 for the Raiders. In the CAA championship, Edmead's 3-pointer with 3:26 left gave Hofstra a 64-58 lead, but Monmouth cut it to one before Hofstra sealed the win at the free-throw line.

  • The Horizon League championship game was played on Tuesday night in Indianapolis.
  • The CAA title game was held in Washington, D.C.

The players

TJ Burch

A player for Wright State who scored 16 of his 19 points in the second half to lead the Raiders' comeback.

Preston Edmead

A freshman for Hofstra who scored 26 points, including a key 3-pointer late, to lead the Pride to the CAA championship.

Orlando Lovejoy

A player for Detroit Mercy who scored a game-high 26 points in the Horizon League final.

Justin Ray

A player for Monmouth who hit a 3-pointer that cut Hofstra's lead to one late in the CAA championship game.

German Plotnikov

A player for Hofstra who hit a 3-pointer 20 seconds after Monmouth had cut the lead to one, helping the Pride seal the CAA title.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

The takeaway

The dramatic conference tournament wins for Wright State and Hofstra set the stage for their long-awaited returns to the NCAA Tournament, with the Raiders making their first appearance since 2022 and the Pride returning for the first time since 2001 after having their 2020 title overruled by the pandemic.