STEWART MANOR, N.Y. (Interstat) — A pivotal late-season Colonial Athletic Association men’s basketball clash is set for Tuesday when the Hofstra Pride host the Drexel Dragons at Mack Sports Complex. Hofstra (20-10) enters with the superior record and seeks to solidify its standing near the top of the conference. The Pride have won five of their last six, most recently a 67-58 home victory over Stony Brook on Feb. 28. German Plotnikov, a key player for Hofstra, scored 15 points in that win and is averaging 14.3 points over his last three contests. Drexel (16-14) looks to continue a recent surge, having won three of its last four games to climb above .500 in league play. The Dragons are coming off a 65-60 home win against Campbell on Feb. 26, fueled by another standout performance from guard Shane Blakeney. Blakeney is the engine for Drexel, averaging 20.0 points over his last five games. He dropped 22 points in the win over Campbell and scored 24 with six rebounds in a victory over Towson on Feb. 22. Containing him will be a primary focus for the Pride’s defense. The teams met earlier this season, with Hofstra escaping Philadelphia with a 70-67 win on Jan. 3. That result is sure to add a layer of motivation for the visiting Dragons as they seek a split in the season series. For Hofstra, consistency beyond Plotnikov will be crucial. Cruz Davis dished out six assists in the last outing, while Preston Edmead provided a scoring spark off the bench with 14 points against Stony Brook. The game carries significant weight for conference tournament seeding with just one week remaining in the regular season. Hofstra aims to protect its home court and maintain momentum, while Drexel eyes a statement road win to bolster its resume. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST.