WEST HARTFORD, CT ? The University of Hartford men's basketball team had three chances at a potential game-winning shot in the closing seconds of a 65-64 loss to the University of Maine on Saturday night at Chase Arena at Reich Family Pavilion.
Sophomore Jaret Von Rosenberg missed a runner in the lane and the rebound was chased down by junior Brian Glowiak, who heaved up a three-pointer from the top of the key with four seconds remaining. The shot came off the rim to Von Rosenberg on the left side, and his last-second fadeaway jumper was off the mark as Maine (10-11 overall, 5-4 America East) held on for its fifth-straight win.
Von Rosenberg scored a career-high 30 points to lead the Hawks, who dropped to 9-12 overall and 3-6 in conference play. The last Hartford player to score 30 or more points in a game was Aaron Cook, who had 40 at Maine last season. Kevin Reed led the Black Bears with 23 points and added nine rebounds. Reed and Von Rosenberg were named Nestle Purina ONE America East Players of the Game.
Maine held a 40-27 lead at halftime thanks to a crazy final 15 seconds in which Hartford was whistled for three technical fouls on one play. Reed went to the line and made five of the six free throws to give the Black Bears their biggest lead of the game at 40-25. Von Rosenberg then scored in the closing seconds to cut the deficit to 13.
The Black Bears used a 14-2 run midway through the first half to take a 24-12 lead 5:29 remaining. Each team made 10 field goals in the first 20 minutes, though Maine got to the free throw line 18 times for 15 points. The Hawks went to the charity stripe only four times and made all four attempts.
Hartford made it a game in the final 10 minutes of the contest. Trailing 53-45 following a Reed basket with 10:21 to go, the Hawks reeled off nine straight points to take their first lead of the half at 54-53 with 8:57 remaining. Von Rosenberg hit back-to-back three-pointers during the run and Hartford took the lead on a bucket by senior Bo Taylor.
The Black Bears took the lead back a minute later on a fastbreak layup from Chris Bruff and held it until a Von Rosenberg three put the Hawks up 59-58 with 4:23 to play. Reed answered with a three of his own on the ensuing possession as Maine went back up by two, though Von Rosenberg tied it the next trip down with a pair of free throws to make it 61-61 with 3:57 to go.
Maine then went up by two on a Reed bucket and expanded it to four on a follow-up tip-in from Junior Bernal. Von Rosenberg, who scored nine of Hartford's final 10 points of the game, cut the deficit in half with a layup and was fouled on the play (he missed the freebie, his only miss from the foul line all night).
After Hartford forced a turnover on defense, Taylor was fouled and made one of two from the line to draw the Hawks to within one. Maine had a chance to pad its lead but Jon Sheets (15 points) missed a jumper and freshman Joe Zeglinski came down with the rebound with 36 seconds to play. The Hawks then took three shots in the final 10 seconds but came away empty.
Taylor added 20 points and eight rebounds for the Hawks while sophomore Michael Turner dished out a game-high seven assists. Von Rosenberg, Zeglinski and Taylor played all 40 minutes while Turner logged 38.
Hartford will take a break from conference play to travel to Boston College on Wednesday, January 31 at 7 p.m. The game will be televised live on NESN.
