BOX SCORE
VESTAL, NY - The University of Hartford men's basketball team let a 13-point second-half lead slip away in a 66-59 loss at Binghamton University on Monday night at the Events Center.
Hartford (6-13 overall, 2-3 America East) led 42-29 with 11:49 remaining before Binghamton (11-7 overall, 4-2 America East) worked its way back into the game behind a 12-0 run over the next 4:00. The Bearcats took their first lead of the half on a deep three-pointer by Tiki Mayben with 4:23 to play and never looked back.
Senior Jaret von Rosenberg led Hartford with 12 points, nine of which came in the final five minutes of the contest. He was named America East Player of the Game along with Mayben, who finished with 10 points and six assists. Binghamton's D.J. Rivera led all scorers with 26 points, 20 of which came in the second half.
Hartford, which led 27-19 at intermission, shot 46 percent in the first half and made a concerted effort to work the ball into the post. The Hawks only attempted four three-pointers in the stanza and connected on three, and all eight players who saw the floor finished with a field goal in the half. Binghamton couldn't get anything going on the offensive end, shooting 33 percent from the floor and going 1-of-10 from beyond the arc.
The Hawks extended their lead to double digits on a steal and layup by sophomore Andres Torres early in the second half. Binghamton cut the deficit back to six before Hartford ripped off seven straight points to take its biggest lead at 13 points.
Rivera and Malik Alvin (16 points) fueled the comeback for the Bearcats, combining for 10 points during the 12-0 run. With the crowd back into the game, the Hawks came down and got a critical tip-in from sophomore Kevin Estes that barely beat the shot clock.
Binghamton tied the game on a three-pointer by Mayben with 5:37 remaining in the contest. Hartford answered on the other end, as von Rosenberg canned a three of his own after Estes kept the possession alive with an offensive rebound.
The Bearcats vaulted into the lead behind a 15-2 run that started with a pair of Rivera free throws that cut the margin to one. The next time down the floor, Mayben drilled a three from NBA range to put Binghamton in front. The Bearcats led 61-51 following the run with just over 2:30 minutes left to play.
Hartford got as close as five in the final minutes but never threatened to take back the lead. Binghamton shot 60 percent in the half while holding the Hawks to 33 percent.
Estes finished with a season-high 11 points while senior Michael Turner added 11 points and nine rebounds. Hartford shot 38 percent for the game and made 7-of-15 from long range.
Hartford will next host Vermont on Thursday, January 22 at Chase Arena at the Reich Family Pavilion. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. and the game will be televised live on NESN.
