NEWARK, N.J. — Senior Austin Williams scored a game-high 16 points as the Hartford men's basketball team took down NJIT, 65-49, on Saturday evening. The Hawks dominated in the second half, limiting NJIT to 18 points.  Hartford was lethal from beyond the arc, shooting 37.1 percent (11-of-30) on the night.
 
Hartford (6-16), improves to 4-6 in America East action. Led by 12 points from Mekhi Gray, NJIT falls  to 10-13 overall and 5-8 in the league.
 
HARTFORD 65, NJIT 49
Hartford started off the game strong, using an 8-3 run fueled by Austin Williams and Traci Carter three-pointers to take an early advantage with 17:49 remaining. The Hawks continued to pull away, going on a 7-0 run to take a 15-5 lead after a Williams layup. NJIT would pull the score back within three, but a Carter triple followed by a David Shriver layup extended the Hawks lead back to eight, 21-13, midway through the half. Hartford's strong shooting from beyond the arc continued in the closing portion of the first, as a Michael Dunne three gave the Hawks a 31-20 advantage with 5:32 left in the half. NJIT would get back within three late, but Shriver earned three points the old-fashioned way, giving the Hawks a 37-31 edge entering the half. The Hawks shot 41.2 percent (7-of17) from beyond the arc in the opening half, led by Carter, who scored 11 points on 3-of-5 long range shooting.
 
Hartford carried its momentum into the second half, opening up on a n 8-0 run capped off by a Carter three to take a 45-31 lead. NJIT would end the run with a three-point of their own, but the Hawks exploded for a 15-1 run, expanding its advantage to 60-34 with 9:47 remaining. Williams would hit another three during that stretch, while Briggs McClain, Flowers and Jared Kimbrough each scored during the Hawks run. The Highlanders wouldn't go down without a fight, using a 5-0 run of its own to cut the Hawks lead to 21, 60-39. NJIT would continue to stifle the Hawks in the closing moments, however Hartford's advantage was too much for the Highlanders as the Hawks took home a 65-49 victory.

INSIDE THE BOX & NOTES

• The win snapped a four-game losing streak for the Hawks
• Williams led all scorers with 16 points
• Carter (14) and Shriver (10) joined Williams in double figures
• Carter finished 5-of-7 from the field and 4-of-6 from three
• He also added a game-high four steals
• Kimbrough was dominant on the boards, hauling in a game-high 11 rebounds
• Carter (13 points) rounded out the Hawks' double-digit scorers
• The Hawks outshot the Highlanders, 42.9 percent (24-of-56) to 35.4 percent (17-of-48)
• Hartford limited NJIT to a 20.0 shooting clip in the second half
• The Hawks held a 39-30 rebounding advantage

 
NEXT ON TAP
The Hawks return home for a matchup with Vermont on Monday. Tipoff from Chase Arena at Reich Family Pavilion is set for 7 p.m. For an inside look at Hartford men's basketball, stay with HartfordHawks.com for updates and follow the team on social media: Twitter | Instagram