STONY BROOK, N.Y. – In a battle of the last two unbeaten teams in the America East, the University of Hartford men's basketball team struggled to get things going offensively and had trouble stopping the Stony Brook in transition as it fell, 73-59, at Pritchard Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon. The Seawolves gained the lead less than five minutes into the first half and never relinquished it as they improve to 3-0 in conference play (12-4 overall) and remain the only team without a league loss. Hartford, which was led by freshman Evan Cooper, dips to 10-7 overall and 3-1 in conference play.

Cooper led the team with 18 points and was named the America East Player of the Game for the Hawks. From three-point land, he knocked down 4-of-7 shots to reach a career-high for the second time in three games. Freshman Jameel Warney, one of four Stony Brook starters to finish in double figures, led the way for the home team with 17 points after shooting 6-of-10 from the field.

The Hawks suffered from several mental mistakes and had a difficult time executing their offense, turning the ball over 10 times in the first half. Stony Brook was able to turn those miscues into 15 points including 10 fast break points.

The first-half rebounding shooting woes were also a story line for the game, as the Seawolves took charge of the game on 63.6% shooting (14-of-22) in the first 20 minutes and led, 37-18, at the half. During that opening half, the Hawks converted on just 28.6% of their shots, making 7-of-26 attempts, and was held to just 10 rebounds and 18 points before the intermission, a season-low.

Hartford took a lead when Cooper knocked down a three-pointer at the 15:58 mark, giving the Hawks a 7-6 advantage. It would prove to be their only advantage, though, as the Hawks combined to miss their next six shots before Yolonzo Moore II drilled one with 9:07 on the clock in the first half which made the score 18-10 in favor of the Seawolves.

Another spurt, this time an 8-0 rally, put the home team ahead by 16 at 26-10 with 6:20 to go until the intermission.

Things got better for Hartford in the second half as it improved its shooting by almost 18 percentage points after going 15-of-34 from the field. The Hawks, who finished at 36.7% on the afternoon, battled back from 29 down to make it a 12 point game with under one minute remaining.

The final seven minutes saw Hartford really pick up the pace as it scored 25 of the game's last 36 points and held the Seawolves to just one field goal during that stretch, a Carson Purifoy jumper with 5:36 left to play. The Hawks went on to win the second half by five points, outscoring their opponents, 41-36.  

Sophomore Mark Nwakamma finished with 10 points while classmate Yolonzo Moore II, who grabbed six rebounds, tallied seven. Tommy Brenton, who was a perfect 5-of-5 from the field, had 16 points and 10 rebounds for Stony Brook.

Stony Brook, which outscored Hartford in the paint 38-20, made 25 more trips to the charity stripe than the Hawks, converting on 22-of-34 free throw attempts.

The Hawks remain on the road for their next game as they travel to UMBC for a game on Wednesday evening. The Hawks and Retrievers will tip it off at the RAC in Baltimore at 7:00 p.m. Fans can catch all the action on the flagship station of Hartford men's basketball, WDRC-1360 AM. Jeff Dooley and Randy LaVigne will have the call.