BOX SCORE
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The University of Hartford men's basketball team came out of the gates firing, but was unable to hold on to a halftime lead and suffered a 59-52 loss to the Brown Bears on Saturday at the Pizzitola Sports Center. Hartford, which led by as many as 11 in the first half, saw its five-point halftime advantage disappear midway through the second period and was never able to bounce back from that point on.
The Hawks executed well and limited their turnovers to just 13 on the evening but could not hold off the Bears' hot second half shooting. After connecting on just 29.2-percent (7-of-24) of its shots as a team in the opening stanza, including 33.3-percent (3-of-9) from three, Brown went on to convert on more than 52-percent of its shots including 5-of-9 three pointers.
A pair of freshmen led the way for the Hawks, who drop to 0-4 on the young season. Nate Sikma enjoyed a career night, connecting on 50.0-percent of his shots (7-of-14), including 3-of-9 from long range, for a game-high 17 points. Yolonzo Moore II added 10 of his own on a 4-of-6 performance from the field. Brown improves to 2-2 and had two players in double figures as Sean McGonagill and Andrew McCarthy, finished with 16 and 13 points, respectively.
The Hawks, who didn't trail in the contest through the first 30 minutes, jumped out to a 3-0 lead early on a made free throw by Corban Wroe followed by a jumper in the paint by Sikma. The Bears remained within striking distance until the 7:16 mark until Andres Torres extended the Hawks' lead to nine at 18-9 with his first of two three-pointers.
A steal by Torres which converted into fast break points by Wroe pushed Hartford's lead to 11 with 5:53 remaining in the opening stanza before Brown responded with eight unanswered points to make it a three point contest with 2:43 left before halftime. Genesis Maciel provided a lay-up 21 seconds later to close out the scoring in the half and send the Hawks into the locker rooms with a five point advantage over the Bears.
In the opening minutes of the second half, Hartford held on to its advantage before Brown started to heat it up to take its first lead of the game at the 10:22 mark. McGonagill broke open a 35-35 deadlock with his third trey of the evening. Torres' lay-up brought the Hawks within one point before Andrew McCarthy countered and extended the Bears' lead to three once again with a lay-up at the 8:59 mark.
Sikma provided an answer for the Hawks with a long three pointer, tying the game at 40 points apiece however Brown ignited for a 9-0 run in a span of one minute sparked by Matt Sullivan who hit all three free throws after being fouled from behind the arc.
Hartford managed to close in on the deficit and come within one point late in the game as it outscored Brown, 12-4, to make it 53-52 with 2:56 to play in regulation. Torres and Sikma drilled threes during that span and Moore capped the surge off with a steal which turned into a bucket down on the other end of the floor
Down the stretch, however, the Hawks could not connect as it missed three treys, allowing Brown to pull away with the game with six made free throws.
The Hawks return to the hardwood on Wednesday, November 23 when it travels to Worcester, Mass. to renew a forgotten series with the Holy Cross Crusaders. Hartford and Holy Cross last met in the 2001-02 season. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
