North Carolina A&T Secures Thrilling First CAA Win, Igniting HBCU Basketball Fans

GREENSBORO, N.C. — In a heart-pounding finish that captivated the HBCU basketball community, North Carolina A&T finally broke through and secured its first Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) victory, edging Hofstra 79–78 on Thursday night. For an Aggies program seeking momentum, this dramatic triumph felt long overdue — and unforgettable.

The win snapped a six-game losing streak for North Carolina A&T, improving the team to 8–10 overall and 1–6 in conference play. Hofstra, one of the CAA's most dangerous offensive squads, dropped its third straight game and fell to 13–7 (4–3 CAA).

"Obviously, thrilled to get our first league win," head coach Monté Ross said afterward. "We were close in some games, but tonight these guys finished it."

Surviving a Shooting Clinic

If the Aggies were going to secure their first CAA win, they would have to withstand a scoring barrage first. Hofstra came out firing on all cylinders, connecting on 52.8% of its shots and drilling 10 three-pointers in the opening half. Even more impressive, the Pride didn't commit a single turnover before the break.

CAA scoring leader Cruz Davis poured in 20 first-half points on his way to a 30-point night, while Jaeden Roberts knocked down five threes off the bench to keep Hofstra in control. Despite the onslaught, the resilient Aggies managed to stay within striking distance, trailing just 43–30 at halftime.

Second-Half Turnaround

The Aggies' halftime adjustments proved pivotal. North Carolina A&T came out of the locker room energized, tightening up its defense and attacking the rim with confidence. Within six minutes, the team had sliced Hofstra's lead to just two points.

"At that point, it was mano y mano," Ross said. "Just guard them.



These guys took pride in that."

A jumper from Trent Middleton Jr. tied the game at 65, and a pull-up three from Middleton soon after gave A&T its first lead since early in the first half. A tip-in by Amadou Doumbia pushed the advantage to five, igniting the passionate Corbett Sports Center crowd.

Chaos at the Finish

The final minutes delivered the kind of heart-pounding drama that HBCU basketball fans live for. Hofstra mounted a late comeback, with Davis and Roberts leading the charge, but the Aggies refused to back down.

With the game tied at 78 and just 3.9 seconds remaining, Trent Middleton Jr. attacked the rim and drew a foul. He calmly sank the second free throw to give A&T a 79–78 lead. Hofstra's final desperation attempt at the buzzer fell short, securing the Aggies' long-awaited first conference victory.

Walker led the Aggies with 24 points and seven rebounds, while Middleton added 20 points. For an HBCU basketball program navigating a tough conference and searching for belief, this win felt bigger than the standings.

North Carolina A&T will look to build on this momentum when they host Towson on Saturday at noon. With confidence, pride, and proof that their first CAA win was no fluke, the Aggies are poised to continue their rise in the conference standings and capture the attention of HBCU basketball fans nationwide.

Originally reported by HBCU Gameday.