Box Score
WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - The stage was set for a memorable finish to the season at Chase Arena at Reich Family Pavilion when it was announced that the America East would host its championship tournament there March 4-7. On Wednesday night in front of a spirited crowd of 1,131, the Hartford men's basketball team provided a fitting home opener for the championship venue, defeating Marist 75-38.
Junior Joe Zeglinski was named the
Nestle Purina ONE America East Player of the Game, leading all scorers with 22 points. Junior Andres Torres, who came into the game tied for second in the nation on the young season with an 8:1 assist-to-turnover ratio, continued his stellar start with seven assists and no turnovers to go along with eight points and six rebounds.
For a second consecutive game, the Hawks wasted no time establishing a potent long-range attack. Junior Milton Burton opened the game with a three, followed quickly by a trey from Zeglinski. Before the Red Foxes knew what had hit them, Zeglinski was 3-for-3 from beyond the arc and the Hawks had run out to a 20-8 lead.
Hartford never trailed in the contest.
"I think the last game gave us confidence," Zeglinski said after the game, referring to the team's narrow defeat at the hands of Baylor in Waco last Sunday. "Things just came together for us today."
By game's end, Zeglinski had hit 6-of-8 three-pointers and the team had gone 12-for-25. While the deep threat staggered the Red Foxes, it was a stifling defense that delivered the knockout blow.
"That's the first thing I look for," head coach Dan Leibovitz acknowledged. "I look at the turnover numbers. I want to see that our team is playing good defense, and when that happens, things will come together for us like they did today. I've been telling the team that, and it's good for them to see it happen like it did today."
The Hawks committed just 12 turnovers, several of which happened after the game had long since been decided. Meanwhile, they forced 16 miscues by Marist and held the Red Foxes to .241 shooting for the game.
Hartford built on a 41-21 halftime advantage, extending its lead to as much as 44 points in the second half. Junior Joel Barkers powered his way to 15 points on 7-of-10 shooting, imposing his will down low while displaying a soft touch on mid-range jumpers. Burton joined Barkers in reaching double figures in each of their first three games with Hartford, finishing with 12 and adding four assists.
A game after coming up one helper shy of a school record, Torres found his teammates for open looks seven times, not turning the ball over once. In the second half, with his distribution prowess forcing the Marist defense to back off, Torres took advantage by converting more scoring opportunities for himself, including a 2-for-3 night from downtown. His eight points was a season best.
The game saw the Hartford debuts of senior Zach Zeglinski and freshman Charles White. Zeglinski has now officially played three different collegiate sports for three different universities, coming to Hartford after walking onto the Penn State football team in 2005 and playing two years of baseball at Temple. White, a redshirt freshman who practiced with the team last season, drove to the hoop and kissed a wraparound lay-up off the glass for his first collegiate points.
Senior David Bookman also made his first appearance of the season. The co-captain pitched in a point on 1-of-2 shooting from the charity stripe, but made his presence felt even more cleaning up the glass for four rebounds in four minutes.
Freshman Ross Erickson hit his only shot attempt of the day, a three-pointer from the top of the key, to secure his first collegiate points.
With their first win under their belt, the Hawks will return to work on Saturday when they welcome the Fordham Rams into Chase Arena. The game is set to tip off at 2 p.m. Tickets are still available by calling 860-768-HAWK, or by emailing tickets@hartford.edu. Fans can also purchase tickets at the Malcolm and Brenda Berman Box Office at the Sports Center.
