Hofstra ends lengthy NCAA Tournament drought after dramatic run to CAA title

The Hofstra Pride brought some excitement to the CAA Tournament and finished it off in style in Tuesday night's title game.

One night after freshman guard Preston Edmead knocked down a last-second three off the glass to defeat the two-seed Towson, 68-65, the three-seed Hofstra (24-10, 12-6 CAA) outlasted the four-seed Monmouth, 75-69, to win the CAA championship and secure an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

This is Hofstra's first title as a member of the CAA conference and locks up its first trip to the Big Dance since it was a part of the America East conference during the 2000-01 season.

Hofstra back in NCAA Tournament after CAA title

The freshman Edmead was flawless once again, leading the Pride with 26 points (8-of-17 FG). He is second on the team in scoring this season (15.5 PPG) behind junior guard Cruz Davis (20.5 PPG), but his impact was certainly felt with Hofstra's season on the line the last two nights.

Davis (12 points, 3-of-13 FG) and senior guard German Plotnikov (10 points, 3-of-9 FG) were the other two players in double-figures as the Pride shot 40 percent (23-of-58) and 6-of-22 (27%) from long range.

Hofstra head coach Speedy Claxton, a Pride alum and longtime NBA player, was overcome with emotion on the sideline as Plotnikov stepped to the free-throw line to tack on the final points of the game.