Box Score
BURLINGTON, Vt. – The Hartford Hawks came into raucous Patrick Gym and made things uncomfortable for the first-place Vermont Catamounts on Tuesday night, but in the end, Vermont proved too much for the Hawks as they fell, 78-66.
Junior Joe Zeglinski was named the Nestle PurinaONE America East Player of the Game, reaching the 20 point plateau for a second straight game and sixth time this season. Two-time America East Player of the Year Marqus Blakely took home the honors for Vermont, leading all scorers with 24.
The Hawks led by as many as three early in the first half, but Vermont got to the free throw line early and often, hitting 12-of-18 free throws in the first half compared to just 1-of-4 for the Hawks
The Catamounts maintained that advantage from the free throw line in the second half, utilizing something the Hawks had done well over their two wins last week. Vermont finished 27-of-37 from the line, while Hartford shot just 5-of-10.
Nevertheless, Hartford stayed within striking distance in the first half, despite foul trouble that saddled five Hawks with at least two fouls. Joe Zeglinski had nine points at the break with Morgan Sabia adding eight. Sabia's eight points gave him exactly 900 in his career, leaving him a hundred points shy of becoming the 23rd member of the 1,000 point club in Hartford history. The junior from San Anselmo, Calif. finished with 15 points (907 career) and a team-best five rebounds.
In the second half, Hartford continued to challenge the first-place Catamounts. Zeglinski took over offensively, knocking down several fadeaway three-pointers to pull Hartford within three at one point. Vermont could never get comfortable, unable to pull away by more than ten points until the game's final moments.
As the game wore on, the Hawks' foul trouble began to catch up with them, as point guard Milton Burton played much of the second stanza with four fouls. Joel Barkers also balanced foul trouble with trying to slow down the Catamounts' potent inside game, and held his own with 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting. Barkers had two big putbacks to keep the pressure on Vermont in the final five minutes of the game.
Hartford will now return home for two games at Chase Arena at Reich Family Pavilion, matching their longest homestand of the season. The Hawks welcome Binghamton into West Hartford on Thursday night at 7, followed by a tilt with Maine at 1 p.m. on Saturday. Tickets are still available at the Malcolm and Brenda Berman Box Office at Reich Family Pavilion, or by calling 860-768-HAWK.
