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WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - Morgan Sabia had 11 points and a career-high 11 rebounds, but the Hartford men's basketball team fell to Boston University in its home conference opener on Saturday, 84-70. Joel Barkers led the Hawks with 18 points, while Ryan Baker poured in a career-best 12.

For Sabia, it was his first career double-double. He was named the Nestle PurinaONE America East Player of the Game. Corey Lowe took home the honors for the Terriers, pouring in 31 points and adding seven rebounds and five assists.

The Hawks got off to a fast start on Saturday, not allowing Boston University to build up an early lead as several teams had during Hartford's 11-game losing streak. They grabbed a 17-13 lead when Joe Zeglinski fed a hard-charging Barkers on the fast break, allowing Barkers to finish a layup and draw the foul, converting the three-point play.

That would be the largest advantage of the day for Hartford, which fell victim to scorching shooting from both Lowe and Terrier junior John Holland. The duo finished with 31 and 32 points, respectively, and accounted for seven of BU's ten three-pointers.

At the half, the Hawks trailed by seven, and it appeared that Boston University would be able to put them away quickly when the Terriers opened the second half on a 9-2 run thanks to three trifectas.

As they have done so many times this season, though, the Hawks battled back. Ryan Baker, who came into the game just 1-for-6 from the field all season, knocked down three of his four shots on the day, all three conversions coming from downtown. His sharpshooting pulled Hartford back in the game, and when Charles White's layup pulled the Hawks to within six at 57-51 with 8:56 remaining, the Terriers were forced to call a timeout to stem the tide.

The Hawks would get no closer, though, as Lowe and Holland continued to throw daggers into Hartford's comeback attempt seemingly every trip up the court.

Hartford will be in action next on Thursday when they travel to Charm City to take on UMBC in a rematch of the 2008 America East title game. Tip off from the Retriever Activities Center is set for 7 p.m. The game can be heard on the flagship station of Hartford basketball, WDRC-1360, with Jeff Dooley and Randy LaVigne at the mics.