Hofstra Pride defeat Charleston Cougars in key CAA matchup

German Plotnikov and Cruz Davis lead the way for Hofstra in 66-62 victory

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Hofstra University men's basketball team secured an important 66-62 win over the College of Charleston in a key Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) matchup on Thursday, February 12th. Veteran guard German Plotnikov led the Pride with 20 points, including 6 three-pointers, while star junior Cruz Davis poured in 23 points to go along with 6 rebounds and 4 assists.

Why it matters

The victory moves Hofstra into sole possession of the No. 3 seed in the CAA, just one game behind Charleston for the No. 2 spot. The Pride's stifling defense was key, holding Charleston's leading scorer Jlynn Counter to just 9 points on 10% shooting.

The details

Plotnikov dominated the first half, scoring 17 of his 20 points before halftime. Davis took over down the stretch, scoring Hofstra's final 7 points to seal the victory. Davis also reached a career milestone, becoming the 43rd player in program history to eclipse 1,000 career points.

  • The game was played on Thursday, February 12, 2026.
  • Hofstra faced their toughest CAA challenge yet on Saturday, February 14, 2026 on the road against No. 1 UNC Wilmington.

The players

German Plotnikov

A veteran 6-foot-5-inch guard for the Hofstra Pride who led the team with 20 points, including 6 three-pointers.

Cruz Davis

The junior guard for the Hofstra Pride who poured in 23 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists, while also becoming the 43rd player in program history to eclipse 1,000 career points.

Jlynn Counter

The leading scorer for the College of Charleston Cougars, who was held to just 9 points on 10% shooting due to the suffocating defense of Hofstra's Josh DeCady.

Speedy Claxton

The head coach of the Hofstra Pride, who praised his team's defensive effort and the performances of Plotnikov and Davis.

Josh DeCady

The Hofstra forward who had the tough assignment of guarding Charleston's leading scorer Jlynn Counter and delivered a strong defensive performance.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I thought it was a great win. Josh DeCady did a great job on their primary ball handler. [Plotnikov] had a great shooting night, and [we] got great minutes off the bench from Biggie Patterson. I thought Silas Sunday really took their bigs out of the game.”

— Speedy Claxton, Hofstra Head Coach

“[Plotnikov] kept us connected on both ends. [He was] shooting the basketball on the offensive end and then he was in gaps and talking to his teammates and making sure everybody was in the right position.”

— Speedy Claxton, Hofstra Head Coach

“[Davis plays with] total domination. He made big shots after big shots down the stretch. That's what we expect from him – glad we have him.”

— Speedy Claxton, Hofstra Head Coach

What’s next

Hofstra faced their most daunting CAA challenge yet on Saturday, February 14, 2026 on the road against No. 1 University of North Carolina Wilmington.

The takeaway

Hofstra's victory over Charleston showcases the team's defensive prowess and the star power of players like German Plotnikov and Cruz Davis, who are leading the Pride's push for a top seed in the CAA tournament.