NEW BRITAIN, Conn. — Sophomore
Hunter Marks poured in a career-high 19 points on Tuesday night as the Hartford men's basketball team used a big second half to push past Central Connecticut, 74-59, in both teams' home opener. The Hawks shot 50 percent in the decisive second half to build on a 33-30 lead at the break and cruise to the victory.
PHOTO GALLERY
HARTFORD 74, CCSU 59
The two sides exchanged runs in the opening half, as the teams exchanged the lead eight times during that stretch. With eight seconds remaining before halftime, sophomore
Michael Dunne knocked down Hartford's sixth three-pointer of the period to send his team into the break with a 33-30 advantage.
The Hawks held the Blue Devils for a four-minute stretch in the second half and used a 7-0 run to push their lead into double digits for the first time at 49-39 with 12:01 remaining. CCSU was unable to bring the deficit down to single digits, as three straight buckets capped by a
Miroslav Stafl layup provided Hartford with a commanding 17-point advantage (64-47) with 6:09 to go.
INSIDE THE BOX AND NOTES
- Head coach John Gallagher picked up his 125th career victory in the season opener
- Four Hawks joined Marks in double figures, including sophomore D.J. Mitchell, who went 5-of-7 from the field and 3-for-5 from three to finish with a career-high 13 points
- Senior Romain Boxus added a personal-best 10 points, while freshman PJ Henry dropped 10 points in his collegiate debut
- The Hawks and Blue Devils have opened the new season against each other in each of the past five years, with Hartford holding a 3-2 advantage
- Hartford shot 80.0 percent from the free-throw line, going 12-of-15
- Jamir Reed and Greg Outlaw scored 13 points apiece for CCSU in the losing effort
NEXT ON TAP
The turnaround is quick of the Hawks, as they begin their 16-game slate inside Reich Family Pavilion by hosting Winthrop on Thursday evening at 7 p.m. Tickets for the home opener can be purchased by clicking
here, or by calling 860-768-HAWK.
