STORRS, Conn. (AP)—Nathaniel Lester scored 19 points and Hofstra held off Yale 68-63 in the first round of the NIT Season Tip-Off on Monday night.
Charles Jenkins added 17 points for the Pride (1-1), including a late key drive and layup.
Hofstra led 30-24 at the half, stretched that to 10 points early in the second half and used an 11-3 run to make it 53-36.
Yale responded by going to a press. A 16-4 run from the Bulldogs (0-2) made it 57-52 with 5 minutes to play, and Jordan Gibson’s layup and free throw brought Yale to within 63-60 with less than 2 minutes to play.
But Cornelius Vines hit a free throw and Jenkins’ layup stretched the lead back to six.
Alex Zampier led Yale with 18 points and Gibson added 11.
Hofstra lost to top-ranked Kansas 101-65 in its opener.
