WEST HARTFORD, CT ? The University of Hartford men's basketball team played its best defensive game of the season in a 64-49 victory over Long Island University on Thursday night at Chase Arena at Reich Family Pavilion.

The Hawks (3-3 overall) won their third-straight game by forcing a season-high 24 turnovers and holding the Blackbirds (2-4 overall) to 33 percent shooting from the field. Freshman Joe Zeglinski scored a team-high 18 points and was named the Nestle Purina ONE America East Player of the Game. LIU's James Williams led all scorers with 21 points.

Both teams struggled from the floor in the first half, each shooting around 30 percent. The Hawks, however, held a 28-23 lead at the break thanks to a 6-0 run in the final three minutes of the stanza.

The Hawks turned up the defensive intensity in the second half, forcing LIU to miss eight of its first nine shots and commit seven turnovers in the first nine minutes. Hartford used an 18-3 run during the stretch to open up a 20-point lead at 46-26. The Blackbirds recovered to shoot 38 percent (9-of-24) for the half but never got closer than 13.

Zeglinski also had six rebounds in 31 minutes of action. Sophomore Jaret Von Rosenberg also finished in double figures with 10 points and added four rebounds. Senior Bo Taylor scored all of his eight points in the second half and had six rebounds while sophomore Michael Turner finished with eight points, five steals and four assists.

Hartford shot 33 percent for the game and turned the ball over only nine times, a season low. LIU shot 35 percent and held a 44-35 edge on the glass.

Hartford will next play at Penn State University on Wednesday, December 6 at 7:30 p.m.