Hofstra surprises Florida State 82-77 in Paradise Jam

Brian Bernardi scored 24 points and Hofstra made 10 of 22 3-pointers to shock Florida State 82-77 in the Paradise Jam tournament on Friday. FSU had to come from behind in the second half to run their record to 4-1. Beasley had become the first freshman in school history to begin his career with three straight 20-point games. Hofstra hit 17 three pointers in the game and kept their deficit respectable throughout the contest. Beasley knocked down his third triple with 12:30 to go cutting the Hofstra lead 53-50.Bernardi made 5 of 6 from 3-point range in the first half while Florida State went 0 for 10 behind the arc. The Gamecocks shot 54 percent from the field, Sindarius Thornwell and P.J. Dozier joining the three seniors in double figures, as Hofstra couldn’t counter the height and transition.

The Opponent: Norfolk State enters Monday’s game at 1-3 following Paradise Jam losses against Indiana State and OH… the Spartans lost, 70-61, to Indiana State on Friday before a 93-71 setback against OH on Saturday… The Golden Hurricane are led by former SEC coach Frank Haith (Missouri) and top assistant Dennis Felton (Georgia). Denton Koon added 15 points and 11 boards for the Pride, who finished 0-3 from the field, 0-2 at the free throw line, and had a pair of turnovers in the final 1:36. Hofstra did not attempt a free throw in the first half.Hofstra last started 3-0 in 2004-05.

Hofstra failed to score over the next four minutes, a period where the Gamecocks scored twelve points, spacing their lead to 86-72 with less than four minutes left. Totals 37-68 15-23 94.

The 6-foot-2 junior sharpshooter is averaging 17.8 ppg for the Pride (3-1), who fell 94-84 to SC at the Paradise Jam in the Virgin Islands Sunday night.