DURHAM, N.H. — A pair of free throws by Nick Guadarrama in the final seconds proved to be the difference, as New Hampshire edged the Hartford men's basketball team, 53-51, inside Lundholm Gymnasium Monday afternoon. The Hawks (5-4 overall), who shot just 25% from the field in the defeat, fall to 2-2 in America East action, while the Wildcats (3-2 overall) improve to 2-0 in league play.
 
Jayden Martinez scored a game-high 19 points to lead New Hampshire to the two-game sweep. Senior Austin Williams scored a career-high 16 points to pace Hartford, which rode a five-game winning streak into the series.
 
PHOTO GALLERY
 
NEW HAMPSHIRE 53, HARTFORD 51
Hartford, which trailed by two at the half, continued to play from behind for most of the second half. With 2:17 to go, sophomore Miroslav Stafl converted on a pair of free throws to give the Hawks their first lead of the game since the 2:11 mark of the first half at 50-48.
 
The advantage was short-lived, though, as Martinez knocked down a three-pointer to put New Hampshire back in front by one 16 seconds later. Despite multiple chances at the go-ahead bucket, Hartford was unable to capitalize on a pair of free throws, a layup and a three-pointer over its next three possessions.
 
The Hawks finally managed to tie up the game with eight seconds left at 51-all on a 1-of-2 effort from the free-throw line by sophomore Moses Flowers. But a Hartford foul in the back court proved to be costly, as it resulted in Guadarrama going to the line for two with six seconds left. After he made both free throws, the Hawks had one final shot to tie or win the game, but grad student Traci Carter's 10-footer hit off the front of the rim. 
 


NEWS & NOTES

• Williams went 3-of-6 from the field, 2-of-3 from three and 8-of-8 from the free-throw line to best his previous season high of 15 points, set earlier this month against CCSU (Dec. 4)
• Stafl added nine points and a team-high seven rebounds off the bench
• Hartford struggled from the field with a season-low 25.0% effort from the field (11-for-44)
• Nearly half of the Hawks' points came from the free-throw line, where the went 24-for-33 for 72.7%
• New Hampshire finished the game shooting 34.5% (5-for-17)
• Since winning six straight games from 2018-2020, the Hawks have dropped the past three meetings with New Hampshire
• This is the first time since 2017 that Hartford drops the regular-season series with New Hampshire 
• Martinez added a game-best 13 rebounds to finish with a double-double for the Wildcats

 
NEXT ON TAP
The Hawks return to Reich Family Pavilion this weekend for a two-game set against Binghamton. The Hawks and Bearcats open the series with a 2 p.m. tilt Saturday, before battling in the final at 2 p.m. Sunday.