WEST HARTFORD, CT ? The University of Hartford men's basketball team won its third straight game by downing UMBC 62-54 Thursday night at Chase Arena at Reich Family Pavilion.
The Hawks (12-15 overall, 6-8 America East) shot a season-high 59 percent for the game and got a combined 38 points from its two seniors in their final regular season home game. Senior Alex Zimnickas scored a game- and career-high 20 points on 8-of-9 shooting while classmate Bo Taylor added 18 points and eight rebounds.
Zimnickas and UMBC's Brian Hodges were named Nestle Purina ONE America East Players of the Game. Hodges was one of four Retrievers in double figures with 14 points and scored his 1,000th career point on a free throw with 8:36 remaining in the second half. Tom Young led UMBC (9-17 overall, 5-8 America East) with 16 points.
Hartford never trailed in the game but saw a second-half double-digit lead waste away thanks to a five-minute scoring drought midway through the stanza. UMBC used a 7-0 run to cut the deficit to one at 37-36 with 6:55 to go. After Zimnickas ended the drought with a bucket to put the Hawks back up by three, Hodges came down the other end and hit a three-pointer to tie things up at 39-39 with 6:26 to play.
The Hawks responded with six straight points to pull back ahead. Zimnickas provided the first three with a layup and foul underneath on a nifty pass from Taylor inside. Taylor then added a free throw and freshman Joe Zeglinski drove the lane for a layup that gave Hartford a 45-39 lead with 4:28 remaining.
Hartford sealed the win from the free throw line, going 9-of-10 from the stripe in the final 50 seconds. The Hawks shot only 63 percent from the foul line for the contest. Sophomore Jaret Von Rosenberg finished with 12 points and went 9-of-10 from the line. Classmate Michael Turner didn't attempt a shot but finished with a game-high nine rebounds, all on the defensive glass.
UMBC hit 18-of-20 free throws in the second half and finished 20-of-23 (87 percent) for the game. Chris Pugh had 11 points and five rebounds while Jay Greene added 10 points and four assists.
Hartford will look to even the season series at Binghamton on Thursday, February 22 at 7 p.m.
