WEST HARTFORD, Conn. — Freshman Moses Flowers tied a career high in scoring, dropping a game-best 28 points to lead Hartford past New Hampshire, 61-52, in its America East opener. Flowers was on fire from the field, shooting 10-of-13, including 4-for-5 from long range, to help the Hawks improve to 8-8 on the season.
 
Sean Sutherland scored 17 points to pace the Wildcats, who fall to 7-7 overall.
 
PHOTO GALLERY
 
HARTFORD 61, NEW HAMPSHIRE 52
The Hawks and Wildcats each mounted a big run in the opening half, with Hartford's 12-1 spurt putting the home team in front, 27-23, with 2:26 to go. But New Hampshire answered back before the end of the frame, delivering back-to-back buckets to knot up the score at 27-all at the break.
 
The lead changed hands three more times, until a 9-0 run erased New Hampshire's 40-37 lead and put the Hawks in front for good with 11:07 left. Hartford continued to control the tempo for the remainder of the game and sealed the victory with a 7-1 spurt over the final three minutes. 
 
INSIDE THE BOX & NOTES

• Graduate student Malik Ellison came two points shy of his fourth double-double on the season, finishing with eight points and a career-high 14 rebounds
• The Hawks shot 53 percent in the decisive second half to finish the game at 42 percent (21-of-51)
• Hartford held New Hampshire to 29 percent shooting from the field, including a 15.4 percent clip from long range (6-for-39)
• The Wildcats held a 45-41 edge on the boards
• Graduate student Traci Carter stuffed the stat sheet, scoring seven points to go along with five assists and four steals

 
NEXT ON TAP
Hartford hits the road for the first time in league play on Wednesday, when it heads to UMass Lowell. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.