PHOTO GALLERY

THE BASICS:

RESULT: Hartford 77, Niagara 73
LOCATION: Chase Arena at Reich Family Pavilion (West Hartford, Conn.)
ATTENDANCE: 772
RECORDS: Niagara (2-4); Hartford (3-2)

THE LEAD:
George Blagojevic had a career-high 18 points to lead four players in double figures as the Hartford men's basketball team knocked off Niagara, 77-73, in the team's home opener on Tuesday. John Carroll posted 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Jack Hobbs delivered 13 points and Evan Cooper added 11.
 
The Hawks shot 12-for-26 from downtown in the contest, including 12 of their first 21 from distance. Matt Scott led all scorers with 23 points in the game, including 21 after halftime, in a losing effort for Niagara, while Emile Blackman added 19 and Marvin Prochet posted 17.

FIRST HALF:
The teams traded baskets to start the game, but then Niagara went on a 7-0 run to build a 9-2 advantage. Carroll came up with the big bucket, drilling a three from the corner and that sent the Hawks on a 13-2 run, keyed by triples from Blagojevic and Hobbs, to take a 15-11 lead.
 
After the squads traded points to 28-23, Hobbs hit another triple to start the home squad on another strong run, this one around the half. Taylor Dyson and Justin Graham also nailed triples in the rally, and Carroll closed out the half with a slashing drive along the baseline, laying it home to send the Hawks to the locker room up 39-27.

SECOND HALF:
The Hawks carried that momentum to the other side of the break, with Hobbs and Dyson drilling threes around a Niagara basket, as Hartford took a 45-29 lead. The Hawks eventually were able to push that advantage to a game-high 21, when Hobbs hit a pair of free throws that moved the lead to 53-32 at the 15:14 mark.
 
But Niagara refused to go quietly, slowly chipping away at the Hartford lead, cutting it down to just 12 at 61-49 with 7:48 left. After the teams traded baskets to 69-57, Niagara embarked on an 8-0 run to cut the deficit to just 69-65. The Hawks pulled back ahead by six, but a three-ball from Scott made it a one-possession game, 74-71 with 1:22 remaining.
The Hawks, though, were able to close out the game at the free-throw line, as the teams traded points down the stretch before Hobbs' two from the stripe with 3.5 seconds remaining sealed the deal.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
• Seven different Hawks hit three-pointers in the first half, as Hartford went 9-for-18. Only three players who took part in the half did not hit a three.

• Carroll had his first career double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds to go along with five assists.
 
• It marked the second-straight game that the Hawks placed four players in double figures.
 
• Hartford delivered 14 assists on 24 baskets, including nine on their first 12 of the game.
 
• Hartford held a significant advantage in points off turnovers, 21-10, and bench points, 29-7, in the contest.

UP NEXT:
Hartford returns home two games in three days in Chase Arena at Reich Familiy Pavilion, beginning with a Friday evening contest against North Florida at 7 p.m. The Hawks will face St. Francis on Sunday at 4 as well, with a game between UNF and SFC slated for Friday at 7.