Shaheen Holloway’s game plan heading into Wednesday’s matchup with Hofstra was to avoid a running game with the high-scoring Pride.

Speedy Claxton’s group averaged 89.5 points in the first two games, while Seton Hall averaged just 56.5.

The Pirates managed to keep the game on pace, but once again their offense suffered in a 49-48 loss in the “Icons of the Game” event at Nassau Coliseum. The Pirates (1-2) suffered a 57-56 loss to Fordham on Saturday afternoon at Walsh Gym. The Pride moved to 3-0.

Isaiah Coleman missed a desperate three-point attempt from the side of the backboard in the final seconds.

“We have to keep fighting, there is no other way,” Holloway said in his post-match radio interview. “This is our team. This isn’t the NBA, there are no trades, so we have to keep fighting and scratching and scratching and trying to figure it out.

Iona transfer Jean Aranguren led Hofstra with 13 points and 6 assists. Former Pirate Jaquan Sanders scored 12 points against his former team, including a big 3-pointer, putting the Pride ahead 49-45 within two minutes.

“I had bad shooting early in the game and my coaching staff kept telling me at halftime, ‘We need you to shoot the ball, we need you to shoot the ball’, so that gave me a lot of confidence. in the second half.” , just be ready to shoot and help my team win,” Sanders said in a TV interview.

Chaunce Jenkins led The Hall with 18 points and went 4-for-7 from deep, giving him 1,000 points for his career. Dylan Addae-Wusu finished with 11 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists.

The Pirates made just nine assists against 14 goals and struggled from deep (6-of-29) and from the foul line (8-of-15). They shot 35% from the field.

“No matter how bad we play, if we just made some crazy free throws, we would win games,” Holloway said.

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St. John’s transfer Cruz Davis stole the ball and scored on a transition layup, giving Hofstra a 40-39 lead with about five minutes left, their first lead since 13-12 in the first half.

Two foul shots by Davis put Hofstra up 44-42.

Jenkins drained a 3-pointer to give The Hall a 45-44 lead, but Sanders drained a 3 to give Hofstra a 49-45 lead.

A three from Addae-Wusu cut the deficit to 49-48.

De Hall grabbed a 24-22 halftime lead while shooting just 29% and 3-for-12 from deep. Holloway complained in his half-time television interview that his team should have been 8-10 points ahead.

“That’s my guy right there,” Claxton said of Holloway in a TV interview. “I wish nothing but the best for my husband Sha. I’m just proud of my boys and the effort they put in tonight.”

The Pirates return home to host Wagner on Saturday afternoon. The Seahawks lost to No. 22 St. John’s 66-45 at Carnesecca Arena on Wednesday.

“We have to figure it out, and quickly,” Holloway said, “because it’s not going to get any easier.”

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Adam Zagoria is a freelance reporter covering Seton Hall and NJ college basketball for NJ Advance Media. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamZagoria and check out his website at ZAGSBLOG.com.