DURHAM, N.H. — In a slugfest that featured nine lead changes, five ties and overtime, New Hampshire came out on top of the Hartford men's basketball team in a 67-63 decision. Grad transfer Malik Ellison registered 13 rebounds and a game-high 28 points, while classmate Traci Carter also recorded a double-double in the defeat with 19 points and 10 boards.
 
Jayden Martinez scored 22 points for the Wildcats (12-13, 5-7 AE), who scored seven of the final 10 points of overtime to seal the win. Snapping a six-game winning streak against New Hampshire, the Hawks (14-14) fall to 6-5 in the league.
 
NEW HAMPSHIRE 67, HARTFORD 63 ot
Each side exchanged substantial runs in the opening half, with the final bucket of the stanza — a Carter three — ending his team's eight-minute scoreless drought to send Hartford into the break with a 23-21 edge. Ellison contributed 12 of his 13 first-half points to an 18-2 run that made it 20-8 at the midway point, before the Wildcats, who opened the game 0-of-11 from three, used a 13-0 run fueled by three triples to go up, 21-20. 
 
The two teams continued to exchange blows in the second half, with neither team taking more than a three-point lead inside the final 12:08 of regulation. With 1:26 to go, Carter delivered a three to put the Hawks up, 51-48, but Sean Sutherlin returned the favor just 24 seconds later to knot up the score. 
 
Each side would miss on its ensuing possessions, and in the game's final seconds, Carter's jumper from the free-throw line rimmed in and out to force overtime.
 
Hartford controlled the opening part of overtime, as a pair of three-point possessions from Carter and Ellison helped the Hawks go up by four. That would be the visiting team's last lead, though, as New Hampshire tied up the game at 60-60 before using four-straight points to push ahead. After a pair of Hawks misses from the line, two Mark Carbone free throws extended the margin to 66-60. Carter slashed the deficit with a quick three-pointer, but Carbone was fouled and hit 1-of-2 to hold off the late charge. 
 
INSIDE THE BOX & NOTES

• Ellison improves his double-double total to nine, a league best
• Ellison had a hot hand from the field, going 10-of-13 and 8-of-11 from the line
• Carter's double-double marked the first of his career
• For the first time this season, and the first time since Feb. 2, 2019, against Stony Brook, the Hawks had two players register a double-double in the same game
• Both teams struggled to convert from the field, with the Hawks finishing at 34.5 percent to New Hampshire's 30.3 percent
• New Hampshire scored 12 points off of 11 Hartford turnovers

 
NEXT ON TAP
The next stop of Hartford's three game road trip lands the Hawks in Binghamton for a Saturday afternoon tilt. Tipoff from the Events Center is set for 4 p.m.

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