BOX SCORE
WEST HARTFORD, CT - The University of Hartford men's basketball team picked up a 76-71 victory over the University of Maine on Wednesday night at Chase Arena at Reich Family Pavilion.
Hartford (6-11 overall, 2-1 America East) never trailed by more than one point in the contest and shot 52 percent from the floor. Senior Jaret von Rosenberg scored a season-high 26 points and added five assists to go along with zero turnovers. Malachi Peay led Maine (6-11 overall, 1-3 America East) with 17 points. Both von Rosenberg and Peay were tabbed Nestle PurinaONE America East Players of the Game.
Hartford jumped out to a quick lead to start the game, scoring 13 straight points over the first three minutes. Senior Michael Turner, von Rosenberg and sophomore Morgan Sabia each made a three-pointer during the stretch as the Hawks connected on five of their first six shots. Maine didn't get on the scoreboard until Gerald McLemore canned a three-pointer with 15:58 to play.
Maine battled back and eventually pulled to within one at 27-26 with 5:09 to play in the half. Hartford stayed in front, though, as freshman Genesis Maciel answered with a layup on the ensuing possession. The Hawks never trailed in the first half and led 39-35 at the break. Hartford shot 56 percent in the stanza and hit seven three-pointers.
The Black Bears took their first lead of the contest just under three minutes into the second half when a Mark Socoby three-pointer made it 42-41. Maciel then scored four points on Hartford's next two possessions to put his team back on top.
Socoby hit another three with 12:04 remaining to give Maine its final lead in the game. Again, the Hawks answered right back with a three-pointer from Sabia to retake the lead. Sabia finished with a season-high 19 points and added five rebounds and a pair of blocks.
Hartford pumped the margin to as many as eight in the final minutes, but Maine kept it close down the stretch, twice cutting the deficit to three. A three-pointer by Socoby pulled the Black Bears to within 74-71 with 12 seconds to play, but von Rosenberg sealed the win with a pair of free throws.
Turner finished with 13 points on 4-of-6 shooting, all from beyond the arc. He also pulled down a season-high eight rebounds and dished out five assists without a turnover.
Peay led four Black Bears in double figures. McLemore and Socoby finished with 13 and 12 points, respectively, while Sean McNally posted 10 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. The Black Bears shot 39 percent and owned a 36-28 edge on the glass.
Hartford will next play at UMBC on Saturday, January 17 at 7 p.m.
