BURLINGTON, Vt.  – The University of Hartford men's basketball team dropped an 81-69 decision in its America East opener at Vermont on Wednesday night. Senior Mark Nwakamma and junior Taylor Dyson scored 19 points each to pace the Hawks, who dip to 5-3 with their second-straight loss. The Catamounts, who received 19 points from Cam Ward, improve to 4-3 overall.

Riddled by turnovers and fouls, the Hawks saw a 36-27 halftime deficit balloon to 18 (47-29) as Vermont opened up the second with an 11-2 run. Hartford committed 25 turnovers – including 11 in the first half – and spotted Vermont 24 points off those miscues. The Catamounts would maintain their double-digit lead for the rest of the contest, despite Hartford closing the gap to 10 in the final minute on a three from Dyson.

Despite the Hawks turning in a 48.9-percent effort (23-of-47) from the field, the Catamounts bettered that performance and went 57.4-percent from the field, making 27-of-47 attempts. Nwakamma went 8-of-12 from the field but saw limited minutes due to foul trouble. He picked up his final foul with just over two minutes left.

The Hawks return home for their next contest, a Saturday night matchup with neighboring rival Central Connecticut. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m.

THE TURNING POINT:
Coming off a half-ending, 6-0 spurt, Vermont ripped off an 11-2 run to start the second half to turn a nine point halftime lead into 18 at 47-29 less than four minutes in to the stanza. The Hawks had a chance to make things interesting at the end as junior Taylor Dyson hit one of his five threes with 47.8 seconds remaining, but the Catamounts cashed in on free throws to halt the comeback bid.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS: 

·         The Hawks shot just under 50-percent from the field (48.9%), but the Catamounts bettered that performance by shooting 57.4 percent,

·         Hartford and Vermont each pulled down 26 rebounds, with the Hawks scoring seven second-chance points

·         Hartford committed 11 first-half turnovers and spotted Vermont 16 points off those miscues

·         The Hawks finished with 20 turnovers, a season-high, which were turned into 24 points on the Catamounts' end

·         Nine of Vermont's 36 first-half points were in transition

·         Starting off the game by going 2-for-2 from the field, senior forward Mark Nwakamma was forced to the bench for the rest of the first half after picking up his second foul with eight minutes left

·         Nwakamma went on to pick up his fourth foul with 9:19 left in the contest and fouled out with just over two minutes remaining

·         All but one of Hartford's starters fouled out of the game as the Hawks were whistled for 27 fouls

·         Vermont cashed in on those Hartford fouls, scoring 22 points from the charity stripe while going 18-for-25 in the second half to maintain its lead 

NEWS AND NOTES: 

·         Falling at Vermont on Wednesday, the Hawks have lost back-to-back games for the first time this season

·         In 24 minutes of action, senior forward Mark Nwakamma netted a season-high19 points on an 8-of-12 effort from the field; that point total vaulted him into eighth place in Hartford's Division I record books with 1,297 career points

·         Finishing with eight made field goals, Nwakamma needs just three more to pass Morgan Sabia and move into sixth place in Hartford's Division I record books

·         Junior Taylor Dyson also scored 19 points, a season-high for the guard

·         Dyson shot 5-for-8 from long range, marking the second time this season he drills five three-pointers in a contest 

UP NEXT:
The Hawks return to non-conference action as they host Central Connecticut on Saturday night. Tipoff from the Chase Family Arena at the Reich Family Pavilion is set for 7 p.m. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling 860.768.HAWK or online at www.hartford.streamlineticketing.com .