LOWELL, Mass. — Graduate student Malik Ellison compiled his fourth double-double on the season, scoring 26 points to go along with a game-high 13 rebounds, to lead Hartford men's basketball to an 80-68 win at UMass Lowell on Wednesday. With the victory, the Hawks (9-8) are off to their first 2-0 start in America East action since 2012-13.
 
Christian Lutete also netted a game-high 26 points for UMass Lowell (7-10), which dips to 1-1 in conference play.
 
HARTFORD 80, UMASS LOWELL 68
A 9-2 run helped the Hawks jump out in front, 14-11, with 11:58 left. Ellison, who accounted for nine of Hartford's points in that opening stretch, led all scorers with 17 points as the Hawks led, 41-34, at the break.
 
Opening the half by scoring the first six points, UMass Lowell came back to take its first lead since midway through the first half at 50-49 on a Lutete three-pointer with 13:42 left. The two sides would exchange buckets to the tune of a 52-51 River Hawks' lead, before the Hawks mounted a huge run to open up the game.
 
Scoring 16 of the game's next 18 points, including 11-straight fueled by three-straight three-pointers, Hartford went up, 70-56, with 7:11 to go. UMass Lowell clawed back to pull within four at 70-66 with 4:52 left, but a three-point play by Ellison ignited an 8-0 run that put the game out of reach inside the final minute.
 
INSIDE THE BOX & NOTES

• Ellison has registered four double-doubles in just seven appearances
• Carter finished with 17 points after finishing 3-for-4 from long range
• Hartford shot 50 percent from the field (30-for-60), including 42 percent from long range (8-for-19)
• The Hawks outrebounded the River Hawks, 36-28
• Boxus and Mitchell combined for 12 points off the bench, all from three-point land
• The Hawks have won six of the past seven games against UMass Lowell to improve to 9-5 in the all-time series

 
NEXT ON TAP
The Hawks enjoy a bye week before returning to action with a home game against Stony Brook next Wednesday (Jan. 15). Tickets for the 7 p.m. tip from Reich Family Pavilion can be purchased by calling 860-768-HAWK, or by clicking here.