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Steve McLaughlin

Men's Basketball Hartford Sports Information

Men's Basketball Takes Overtime Nail Biter Against Binghamton, 89-83

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WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Five Hawks scored in double figures, led by Mark Nwakamma's 19 points, as the University of Hartford men's basketball team prevailed in overtime against Binghamton, 89-83, on Thursday at the Chase Family Arena. The final game of the 2013-14 regular season against UMBC on Sunday will determine the Hawks' fate in the upcoming America East Championships as they remain tied for third place with UAlbany with a 9-6 record in league action.

Playing in their first overtime game since losing to Vermont in two extra sessions in the America East semifinals back in 2012, the Hawks made 4-of-4 from the floor, including a pair of three-pointers, in the final five minutes to put away the Bearcats (7-21, 4-11 AE).

Nwakamma registered his sixth double-double of the season, going 7-of-9 from the floor and 5-of-6 from the stripe while pulling down a season-high 12 rebounds. Joining the junior forward in twin figures were Taylor Dyson (14), Yolonzo Moore II (14), Wes Cole (12) and Evan Cooper (10).

After leading by as many as 15 in the second half, Hartford found itself down four at 67-63 with 2:01 left following a Jordan Reed three-pointer. The Hawks remained poised, though, using a Nwakamma layup and a pair of Cole free throws to knot up the score at 67-all with just 57 seconds remaining in regulation.

Thirteen seconds later, the Bearcats regained an edge for the final time at 67-65 as Reed added to his second-half scoring spree with a pair of free throws. The Binghamton sophomore finished with 33 points, the most of any America East player this season, after being held to just four points at the half.

But Cooper, who went down early in the second and needed stitches above his right eye, remained calm during crunch time. The sophomore found a seam in the Bearcats' defense, driving to the hoop with 17 seconds left and making the bucket while drawing the foul. Putting the Hawks up by one with the old-fashioned three-point play, he went on to give the Hawks a three-point advantage at 72-69 with five seconds remaining after converting on two more free throws.

The game was not over, though, despite the Bearcats' timeouts being depleted. On the ensuing possession, Yosef Yacob, the reigning America East Rookie of the Week who had made just 1-of-10 shots all contest, raced down the court and hit his only three of the night from the top of the key at the buzzer to send the game into overtime.

In the extra period, Moore, who had nine points during that final stretch, scored Hartford's first five points of overtime. In the final minute, Binghamton brought a six-point deficit down to one possession two times, but a Cole triple with 22 seconds left and a 4-of-4 effort from the free throw line in the last 11.9 seconds sealed Hartford's fifth win in six games.

Reed also finished with a double-double, pulling down a game-high 13 rebounds.

The Hawks shot a season-high 58.8 percent (30-of-51) on the night. From three, Hartford went 11-of-24 to finish at 45.8-percent.

Tip-off between the Hawks and Retrievers from the Chase Family Arena is set for 2 p.m. Prior to the game, Hartford will honor its senior class of Jeremiah Aska, Oren Faulk and Adam Oresky.
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