BOX SCORE
WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Senior point guard Andres Torres enjoyed a career night with 25 points however the University of Hartford men's basketball team could not hold on down the stretch and fell to its in-state foe Quinnipiac by a 70-61 final on Tuesday evening at the Chase Family Arena at the Reich Family Pavilion. The Hawks remain winless in 2011-12 at 0-9 while the Bobcats level their overall mark at 4-4.
Torres poured in 19 of his game-high 25 points in the final stanza including six from downtown, a career-best, but the Hawks, who overcame a nine point deficit in that half, could not convert on free throws finishing 6-for-14 during that stretch. During that pivotal second period, Hartford was outrebounded by its foes, 27-13, which included an 11-3 Bobcats' advantage on the offensive glass. Those Quinnipiac offensive boards translated to 10 second chance points on the scoreboard in favor of the visitors.
The Hawks trailed early in the opening half but were able to chip away at the Bobcats' 10 point, 15-5, advantage with 16:31 to play and come within three of the visiting squad midway through that stanza. Quinnipiac quickly boosted its lead to nine on back-to-back treys by Dave Johnson, the first of his 10 points on the evening, before Hartford put together a 9-2 rally come within one at 28-27 with 4:29 remaining.
After exchanging two baskets, the Bobcats went on to construct an 8-2 run to close out the half sparked by James Johnson's long three to put them ahead at the halftime break by seven at 38-31.
Out of the intermission, Quinnipiac stretched is lead to nine but that advantage was short lived as the Hawks rattled off a 10-0 stretch on a pair of threes by Torres, a layup by Oren Faulk and a Mark Nwakamma dunk provided the home team with its first lead since the opening possession of the game. After the lead changed hands two more times, the Dave Johnson turned a steal into a fast break lay-up to give the Bobcats a 45-44 lead, one that it would hold on to for the final 11:38.
Hartford came within two down the stretch on Torres' final long ball of the evening however Quinnipiac went on to outscore the Hawks, 14-8, to close out the game.
The Hawks put together their best performance from downtown, connecting on 10-of-22 attempts for a 45.5% effort. Overall they shot 44.4% (20-of-45) from the floor while the Bobcats finished the game shooting 44.2% (23-of-52). Hartford turned the ball over 20 times which accounted for 26 of the Bobcats' points.
Four Bobcats registered double figures led by James Johnson and Ike Azotam who each contributed 15 points. Azotam added 10 rebounds to compile the lone double double of the contest. Nate Sikma added 13 points for the Hawks and joined sophomore Faulk with five rebounds on the evening.
Hartford remains home for its next game on Saturday, December 10 when it welcomes Niagara to Chase Arena at 6:00 p.m. The contest is part of a doubleheader following the women's basketball team which takes the court at 2:00 p.m. against Boston College. Tickets for both games are still available and can be purchased by calling the Malcolm and Brenda Berman Athletics Ticket Office at 860-768-HAWK or by visiting www.HartfordHawksTickets.com.
