STONY BROOK, NY ? The University of Hartford men's basketball team used a strong second-half effort to come away with a 59-44 victory over Stony Brook University on Sunday afternoon at SBU Arena.
Hartford (11-15 overall, 5-8 America East) has now won two in a row and remains in a tie for sixth place with New Hampshire in the conference. Senior Bo Taylor led the Hawks with a game-high 17 points and was named America East Player of the Game.
The Hawks held Stony Brook (8-16 overall, 3-9 America East) to 37 percent shooting for the contest and limited leading scorer Ricky Lucas (15.7 ppg) to only five points, all of which came in the final three minutes. Mike Popoko led the Seawolves with 10 points and was also named America East Player of the Game.
Neither team set the nets ablaze in the first half, as Hartford shot just 32 percent from the floor while Stony Brook checked in at 29 percent. The Hawks endured an eight-minute scoring drought to start the game but trailed by only three when Taylor scored the team's first points with 11:44 to play.
Tied at 12-12 with five minutes remaining in the stanza, Hartford pulled ahead behind a 9-2 run that included three-point baskets by freshman Joe Zeglinski and junior Rich Baker, who made his return to the floor after missing the last 11 games with a foot injury. Stony Brook used four free throws in the final minute to pull within 21-18 at the half.
Hartford put the game away in the first nine minutes of the second half, outscoring Stony Brook 20-4 to pull out to a 41-22 lead. The stretch included 12 straight points from the Hawks, half of which came from sophomore Michael Turner.
The Hawks led by as many as 21 points in the second half and never let the lead dip below double digits in the final 15 minutes. Hartford, which tied a season high with 13 steals, shot 59 percent for the half and committed just six turnovers.
Taylor also had five steals, three rebounds and two assists to go along with his 17 points. Sophomore Jaret Von Rosenberg finished with nine points while Zeglinski added eight points and five boards. Turner (game-high eight rebounds), Baker and junior Brian Glowiak chipped in with six points apiece.
Hartford will host UMBC in its final home game of the season on Thursday, February 15. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Chase Arena at Reich Family Pavilion, though the Hawks will honor their two seniors in a pre-game ceremony held 15 minutes prior.
