BOSTON ? Despite yet another valiant come-from-behind effort, the University of Hartford men's basketball team couldn't overtake Boston University on Saturday afternoon and dropped a 59-51 decision at Case Gymnasium.
The Hawks (9-14 overall, 3-7 America East) twice cut the deficit to one in the second half, but BU's Carlos Strong answered with three-pointers each time to keep the Terriers (9-12 overall, 6-3 America East) in front. Strong finished with a game-high 20 points and hit 4-of-5 from three-point range.
Seniors Bo Taylor (12 points) and Alex Zimnickas (11 points) led the Hawks. Sophomore Michael Turner was named America East Player of the Game along with BU's Scott Brittain. Turner finished with eight points, seven rebounds and a career-high six steals while Brittain notched a double-double with 15 points and a game-high 15 rebounds.
Rebounding and free throws were the main factors for Hartford. The Hawks, who went to a smaller lineup at times because of foul trouble, were outrebounded 35-21 for the game and 12-4 on the offensive glass. Hartford also made only 6-of-16 from the charity stripe (a season-low 38 percent).
BU took control midway through the first half with an 18-2 run, turning a one-point deficit into a 15-point lead at 27-12 with 5:00 minutes remaining. The Hawks trimmed the deficit to 32-21 by intermission despite being outrebounded 18-9 in the stanza.
The Hawks scored on their first four possessions of the second half to immediately cut the deficit to four in the first 2:30 minutes. A Taylor basket later in the stanza pulled the Hawks to within one at 41-40, though BU stayed in front thanks to a three from Strong. Hartford later cut it to 46-45 with 4:16 to go on another Taylor basket, though Strong answered once again with another three.
The defining play of the game came with one minute remaining and BU clinging to a 49-47 lead. Valdas Sirutis missed the front end of a one-and-one and the Terriers came away with the offensive rebound. Tyler Morris made the most of the second chance, hitting a runner in the lane while drawing a foul. His free throw put BU up by five and effectively slammed the door on Hartford's momentum.
The Hawks limited Morris to only those three points in the second half, though he finished with 15 for the game. The Terriers shot 43 percent from the floor for the contest and hit 19-of-28 (68 percent) from the line.
Junior Brian Glowiak added nine points for the Hawks while sophomore Jaret Von Rosenberg added seven. Hartford shot 48 percent for the game and finished with 10 steals.
Hartford will next host the University at Albany on Monday, February 5 at 7 p.m.
