WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ ? The University of Hartford men's basketball team tied a school record with 12 three-pointers in a 76-75 victory over Monmouth University Saturday night at Boylan Gymnasium.
Senior Bo Taylor scored a career-high 21 points while sophomore Michael Turner added a career-high 18 points as Hartford improved to 4-4 on the season. Sophomore Jaret Von Rosenberg made a key steal and was 4-of-4 from the free throw line in the final 11 seconds to seal the win. Monmouth (3-8 overall) was led by Dejan Delic, who hit seven three-pointers to finish with a game-high 24 points.
Hartford's first six field goals of the second half came from downtown, resulting in a 56-53 lead with 9:49 to play. Hartford never trailed again in the contest, though Monmouth never fell behind by more than six and eventually tied the game at 67-67 with just over a minute to play.
Taylor stepped up and made big plays down the stretch, none bigger than a bucket in the paint with 53 seconds to go in which he was fouled. He made the freebie to put Hartford up 70-67, though Delvic answered with a tip-in off a miss on the other end to keep Monmouth within one.
After each team made one of two from the free throw line to give Hartford a 71-70 advantage, Taylor came up with a rebound on the defensive end and was fouled with 18 seconds remaining. He missed the first but made the second to give Hartford a two-point lead. On Monmouth's next trip down the floor, Von Rosenberg picked off a crosscourt pass and dribbled down the sideline. He was fouled with 11 seconds on the clock and made both to put Hartford up 74-70.
Following a tip-in by Monmouth's Jhamar Youngblood that made it 74-72, Von Rosenberg took the inbounds pass and was fouled again. He calmly sank both free throws to ice the game with two seconds to play, though Delvic made the final score closer with a buzzer-beating three.
Monmouth led by as many as nine points in the first half, taking a 26-17 lead with 9:42 remaining on a three-pointer by Delic. Monmouth shot 53 percent (9-of-17) from beyond the arc in the first half and made all but two of its field goals from long range. Delic led the way with four treys while Whitney Coleman added three.
Hartford used a 17-6 run over the final eight minutes of the half to get back into the game, taking a 34-31 lead with 1:00 to go on a Baker three-pointer from way out as the shot clock was winding down. Monmouth tied the game at 34-34 at the halftime buzzer as Delic dropped in another deep three.
Hartford shot a season-high 53 percent (25-of-47) for the game and 52 percent (12-of-23) from three-point range. Hartford's 76 points were also a season high. Monmouth shot 57 percent from the floor but committed 21 turnovers.
Freshman Joe Zeglinski finished in double figures with 10 points while junior Rich Baker added nine. Turner also had eight rebounds to go along with four assists and four steals.
Hartford will next play at Yale University on Monday, December 11 at 7 p.m.
