WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Hartford men's basketball rolled to its third-straight home win on Wednesday, taking down Maine by an 81-73 final inside Reich Family Pavilion. Winners of three of their past four, the Hawks improve to 13-12 overall and 6-4 in the America East.
 
Senior Travis Weatherington knocked down four three-pointers to finish with a game-high 22 points, also a season-high, while classmate J.R. Lynch chipped in with 19 points and eight assists. Maine (5-21, 3-8 AE) was led by Andrew Fleming, who recorded a double-double with 16 points and 10 boards.

PHOTO GALLERY
 

HARTFORD 81, MAINE 73
 
Neither team built more than a five-point lead in the opening stanza in a stretch that saw the lead change hands nine times. But the Hawks, who went 59 percent from the field behind 6-of-11 shooting from behind the arc, ended the half on an 8-2 run to match its largest lead of the half and take a 41-36 advantage into the break.
 
The back-and-forth action continued into the second half, with three more ties resulting in a 48-48 deadlock with 15:12 left. A 5-0 run by Lynch provided a cushion for Hartford, which went on to push the lead to eight on a three-point play by Weatherington with 9:10 to go. Despite Maine whittling that advantage down to one with seven-unanswered points, the Hawks held off a barrage of three-pointers by the Black Bears with a game-ending 16-9 run.
 
INSIDE THE BOX AND NOTES

• The Hawks placed four in double-figures, as seniors Jason Dunne and George Blagojevic netted 15 and 12 points apiece, respectively.
• Both teams shot above 50-percent, with Hartford finishing the game going 57.7 percent from the field (30-of-52). Maine shot at a 51.8 percent clip (29-of-56) on the night.
• Both teams were even from long range as well, as the Hawks went 11-for-23 (47.8%), to the Black Bears' 47.4 percent (9-of-19).
• Hartford improves to 8-2 in home games, while its overall record is above .500 for the first time this season.

 
NEXT ON TAP
The Hawks remain home to play host to first-place Vermont on Saturday evening. Tickets for the 5 p.m. tip can be purchased by calling 860-768-HAWK, or by clicking here.