THE BASICS:

RESULT: Hartford 82, Niagara 78 (OT)
LOCATION: Chase Arena at Reich Family Pavilion (West Hartford, Conn.)
ATTENDANCE: 2,607
RECORDS: Hartford (1-1); Niagara (0-3)

PHOTO GALLERY

THE LEAD:
Senior Jalen Ross erupted for a career-best 35 points to lead the University of Hartford men's basketball team to a 82-78 overtime victory against Niagara early Tuesday morning in front of a crowd of 2,607.  The game, which tipped at 6:30 a.m. as part of ESPN's Tip-Off Marathon, marked the Hawks' first win of the season and the first nationally televised men's basketball game from Chase Arena at Reich Family Pavilion.
 
Ross netted 18 points before the break to give Hartford a 33-26 halftime advantage, but it was the second-half and overtime play of sophomore guard Jason Dunne that helped propel the Hawks to victory. Dunne, who scored five in the first half, finished with a career-best 20, including eight in the extra period.
 
George Blagojevic (14 points) also finished in double figures for the Hawks, while John Carroll added five points, five assists and four rebounds in the win. J.R. Lynch added six assists in the win.
 
Junior guard Matt Scott led the Purple Eagles in points (26) and rebounds (nine). Dominic Robb (17), Shane Gatling (11) and Hartford native Khalil Dukes (11) also scored in double digits for Niagara.


 
FIRST HALF:
The Hawks took a 33-26 lead into the break thanks to Ross' huge 18-point effort in the first half. Blagojevic got things started with a jumper on Hartford's first possession and the Hawks quickly built a 10-3 lead. Ross scored 11 straight points for Hartford but the Purple Eagles hung tough, leading 19-18 with seven minutes left to play.
 
Ross and Blagojevich combined to fuel a 7-0 run for the Hawks, giving Hartford a 25-19 edge and a lead the team would not relinquish until the final minute of regulation.

SECOND HALF:
Hartford led by as many as 14 points with 5:33 left to play in the second half but Niagara mounted an effective charge down the stretch. Dukes knocked down three 3s during a 20-4 run for the Purple Eagles and Niagara regained the lead at 70-68 with 50 seconds remaining. Ross hit two free throws to knot the score at 70-70 on Hartford's final possession and an errant 3 from Dukes sent the game into overtime.
 
OVERTIME:
Dunne's overtime heroics began when he drilled a 3-pointer from the top of the key, putting Hartford ahead 73-72 with 3:30 on the clock. Ross came up with a steal on the ensuing possession and was fouled on a fast break, hitting both free throws. Niagara eventually tied the game at on a 3 from Gatling and took control, 78-77, on a free throw with about a minute to play.
 
The Hawks closed out the game on a 5-0 run, with Dunne handling all the scoring. He hit a 3 from the corner, off a perfectly executed drive-and-kick by Ross, and iced the game with a pair of free throws in the closing seconds.
 
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Ross (35 points) and Dunne (20) set new career-bests in scoring. Ross's previous best was 27, against UMBC (1/21/16) and Dunne's previous high was 13, which he scored in the season opener at Central Connecticut.
• Dunne's nine boards were also a personal best.
• Ross led all players with 42 minutes, setting another career mark. Dunne (42), J.R. Lynch (39) and Max Twyman (4) also charted career-highs in minutes.
• The win was Hartford's first overtime victory since defeating Central Connecticut, 92-83, in double-overtime in the 2015-16 season opener.
• The Hawks led Niagara in field goal percentages, shooting .453 from the floor compared to the Purple Eagles' .377. Hartford also held the edge at the free-throw line, hitting 81.3 percent to 60 percent for Niagara.
• The Purple Eagles held the edge in rebounds (41-39) and turnovers (11-14).

 
UP NEXT:
The Hawks will face a quick turnaround, hosting Rider (1-0) on Wednesday, Nov. 16, at Chase Arena. Hartford is 1-3 all-time against Rider, with the lone win coming in a 68-57 victory in 2004. This will mark the fourth consecutive season in which the two teams have faced off, with the Broncos riding a three-game win streak. Rider won its season opener, 67-56, at Hampton last week.