The Pride defeated Monmouth 75-69 to claim their first NCAA tournament berth since 1999.
Hofstra defeated Monmouth 75-69 Tuesday night to win the Coastal Athletic Association tournament championship, securing their first NCAA tournament appearance in 25 years. The Pride's victory ended one of college basketball's longest active tournament droughts. The championship game victory guaranteed Hofstra an automatic bid to March Madness.
The 25-year gap represents a significant milestone for the Long Island-based program, which last appeared in the NCAA tournament in 1999. Hofstra's drought was among the longest active streaks for programs that had previously reached the tournament. The CAA tournament championship provides the conference's automatic qualifier for the NCAA's premier postseason event.
The 75-69 victory over Monmouth marked the culmination of Hofstra's CAA tournament run. Specific scoring details and key performers in the championship game have not been detailed in available reports. The six-point margin of victory secured the Pride's return to national prominence in college basketball.
Hofstra will now await Selection Sunday to learn their seeding and first-round opponent in the NCAA tournament. The automatic bid eliminates any uncertainty about the Pride's postseason participation. March Madness begins with the First Four games, followed by the traditional 64-team bracket opening rounds.