THE BASICS:
 
RESULT: UMBC 62, Hartford 53
RECORDS: Hartford (18-12, 11-5); UMBC (21-10, 12-4 AE)
LOCATION: Chase Arena at Reich Family Pavilion (West Hartford, Conn.)
PHOTO GALLERY
 
THE LEAD:
 
K.J. Maura scored a game-best 25 points on Tuesday night to lead UMBC to a 62-53 victory against the University of Hartford men's basketball team in what was a battle of the two second-place teams in the America East. With the win, the Retrievers lock up the No. 2 seed in the upcoming America East Playoffs while the Hawks, who snapped a four-game winning streak with the defeat, dip to the No. 3 seed for the postseason.

Three Hawks registered double figures, led by junior J.R. Lynch's 15 points. Classmate Jason Dunne added 13 points, while redshirt-junior John Carroll recorded a double-double for the second time in as many outings with 11 points and a game-high 12 rebounds.
 
Prior to the game, Hartford honored Hassan Attia, Jack Hobbs and Mark Plousis in a Senior Night Ceremony. Despite the defeat, the Hawks have another home game in their future, as they host No. 6 New Hampshire in the quarterfinals of the America East Playoffs on Saturday (4 p.m.).
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 

• A slow start for the Hawks resulted in UMBC jumping out to an 11-2 lead less than eight minutes in. But Hartford quickly stormed back with 11 unanswered points, with Lynch's three-pointer at the 8:54 mark capping the run and providing the Hawks with a 13-11 lead.
• The Retrievers had an answer, though, as they retook the lead behind five-straight points before pushing ahead by five (23-18) with 3:03 to go. Behind 18 first-half points from Mauro, UMBC took a 30-27 lead into intermission.
• A quick three to start the half from Joe Sherburne extended the Retrievers' lead to 10, but an 11-3 run quickly brought Hartford back in the game and pulled the Hawks within two (36-34) with 14:58 remaining.
• Each time the Hawks came within striking distance, UMBC continued to provide an answer. With Hartford trailing, 43-39, Mauro knocked down a pair of three-pointers within an 11-second stretch to again make it a 10-point game with 9:22 to go.
• Hartford managed to close the gap down to five with seven unanswered points, but wouldn't come any closer as UMBC pushed the lead back to 10 with less than three minutes to play.

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE & NOTES:
 

• The Hawks finished the 2017-18 regular season with the most regular-season victories in their Division I era (since 1984). In addition, Hartford's 18 wins are tied for the program's DI record.
• Converting on a trio three-pointers, Dunne now ranks No. 5 in Hartford's Division I history in the category with 173 career makes.
• Maura had a solid night from behind the arc, going 6-of-9.
• The Retrievers had a decent shooting night, going 42.0 percent from the field (21-of-50), including 45.5 percent from long range (10-of-22).

 
NEXT ON TAP:
The third-seeded Hawks play host to No. 6 New Hampshire in the quarterfinals of the America East Playoffs on Saturday, March 3. Tipoff from Chase Arena at Reich Family Pavilion is set for 4 p.m.
 
Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by calling 860-768-HAWK or by clicking here. The Hawks swept a pair of regular-season games from the Wildcats earlier this season, including a recent 65-56 victory in Reich Family Pavilion on Feb. 21.