Hofstra ends 25-year March Madness drought with CAA title game win

The Pride defeated Monmouth 75-69 to earn their first NCAA Tournament berth since 2001.

Mar. 11, 2026 at 1:50am

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Hofstra University's men's basketball team has ended a 25-year drought and will play in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2001 after defeating Monmouth 75-69 in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) title game. Freshman guard Preston Edmead scored 26 points to lead the Pride, who also qualified for the Big Dance in 2020 but had the tournament canceled due to COVID-19. Hofstra's current head coach, Craig 'Speedy' Claxton, was an assistant on that 2020 team before taking over the program in 2021.

Why it matters

Hofstra's return to the NCAA Tournament is a significant milestone for the program, which had not reached the Big Dance since the Jay Wright era in the early 2000s. The Pride's victory over Monmouth denies the Hawks their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2006, extending their drought under head coach King Rice.

The details

Edmead's 26-point performance, including a key four-point play in the first half, helped Hofstra overcome foul trouble for CAA Player of the Year Cruz Davis. Monmouth's Kavion McClain scored a game-high 29 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Pride's balanced attack and timely 3-pointers down the stretch.

  • Hofstra qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 2000-01 under former head coach Jay Wright.
  • The Pride also earned a tournament berth in 2020 under then-assistant coach Craig 'Speedy' Claxton, but the event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Claxton took over as Hofstra's head coach in 2021, ending the program's 25-year NCAA Tournament drought.

The players

Craig 'Speedy' Claxton

The current head coach of the Hofstra Pride, who played for the team in the early 2000s and later served as an assistant before taking over the program in 2021.

Preston Edmead

A freshman guard for the Hofstra Pride, who scored a team-high 26 points in the CAA title game victory over Monmouth.

Kavion McClain

The leading scorer for the Monmouth Hawks, who tallied a game-high 29 points in the CAA championship game.

King Rice

The head coach of the Monmouth Hawks, who has led the program for 15 seasons but has not taken them to the NCAA Tournament since 2006.

Cruz Davis

The CAA Player of the Year for the Hofstra Pride, who was limited to just 3 points in 12 minutes due to foul trouble in the first half.

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What they’re saying

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

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

What’s next

Hofstra will now await its seeding and first-round opponent when the NCAA Tournament bracket is revealed on Selection Sunday.

The takeaway

Hofstra's long-awaited return to the NCAA Tournament is a testament to the program's resilience and the work of head coach Craig 'Speedy' Claxton, who has guided the Pride back to the Big Dance for the first time in a quarter-century.