STONY BROOK, NY ? The University of Hartford men's basketball team extended its winning streak to four games with a 53-51 victory over Stony Brook University on Thursday night at SBU Arena.
Hartford (14-13 overall, 8-4 America East) led the entire contest in a game that didn't feature any ties or lead changes. The win was the seventh in a row over Stony Brook (4-20 overall, 1-11 America East) and completed a road sweep of all the New York schools for the first time since SBU, Albany and Binghamton joined the conference in 2001-02.
Sophomore Joe Zeglinski scored 15 of his game-high 18 points in the second half. He was named America East Player of the Game along with SBU's Michael Tyree, who finished with 13 points.
Hartford led 28-21 at the half and stayed ahead through the first nine minutes of the second stanza thanks to Zeglinski, who hit three three-pointers and scored Hartford's first 15 points of the half. He outscored the entire Stony Brook team (15-13) before coming out of the game after picking up his third foul with 10:35 to go in the contest.
The rest of the team picked up from there, and the Hawks extended the lead to double digits on a three-pointer by Brian Glowiak with 9:38 to play. Stony Brook kept it close but never made a charge until the final minutes. A basket by Emanuel Neto and a deep three-pointer by Tyree cut the deficit to 50-47 with just under two minutes to go.
Stony Brook had a chance to tie the game on its ensuing possession, but Tyree missed on a clean look from behind the arc and freshman Morgan Sabia came down with the rebound. He was later fouled on the other end and made one of two from the stripe to put the Hawks up by four.
Tyree closed the gap to 51-49 with a short jumper with 38 seconds to play. The Seawolves then fouled Sabia again, and he missed the front end of a one-and-one. Stony Brook came away with the board and had a chance to tie or take the lead. Tyree went for the win with a three but came up short, and junior Warren McLendon pulled down the rebound in traffic. McLendon then went to the line and sealed the win by calmly sinking a pair of free throws.
Hartford shot 40 percent for the game but dished out 15 assists on 19 field goals. Sabia scored 13 of his 16 points in the first half and added a game-high eight rebounds. Junior Michael Turner added seven points, six rebounds and a game-high six assists.
Stony Brook shot 37 percent and held a 37-33 advantage on the glass. Neto also finished in double figures with 12 points and added seven rebounds.
Hartford will next host New Hampshire on Sunday, February 17 at 2 p.m.
