WEST HARTFORD, Conn. — Sophomore Briggs McClain finished with a career-high 22 points as the Hartford men's basketball team late comeback fell short, dropping a 92-85 decision to UMBC on Wednesday night. The Hawks, who trailed by as much as 17, pulled within four points late, but UMBC held on for the win.
 
Hartford (9-18), improves to 7-8 in America East action, while UMBC, who were led by 26 points by Darnell Rogers, improves to 14-13 overall and 9-7 in the league.
 
UMBC 92, HARTFORD 85
Hartford would start the first half on fire, using a 10-0 run to take an early advantage. Moses Flowers and Jared Kimbrough sparked the run for the Hawks, scoring four points each.  UMBC would start to fight back, pulling within six, as the Hawks lead, 14-8, at the 12:29 mark. Briggs McClain would cut UMBC's momentum, draining a triple to put the Hawks back up by nine. The Retrievers however would respond with a 10-0 run, taking a 18-17 lead with 10:33 remaining. UMBC would extend its lead to four, but the Hawks fought back, leveling the score at 26-26 after a Flowers pullup jumper. The two sides continued to trade buckets as McClain hit another three at the 1:56 mark, to pull the Hawks within one, 33-32. The Retrievers would go on to lead by five late in the half, a McClain driving layup with four second left saw UMBC enter the halftime break up, 39-37.
 
UMBC would add onto its lead early in the second half, but a David Shriver three, cut the Retrievers advantage to 48-42 with 17:02 left in the half. Flowers added a triple to get the Hawks within three, but a 6-0 run saw UMBC extend its lead to 60-49. The Retrievers continued to pull away, taking a 17-point lead, it's largest of the game, with 7:57 left in the game. However, the Hawks would kickstart a furious comeback attempt. A 7-0 stretch, capped off by an and-one play from Jared Kimbrough, saw the Hawks pull within 11, 80-69. McClain added a pair of free throws to get the Hawks within six with 1:46 left in the game. UMBC would regain a double-digit lead, but a pair of McClain three-pointers got the Hawks within four late, 87-83. However, UMBC would ice out the Hawks from the free-throw line, heading home with a 92-85 win

INSIDE THE BOX & NOTES

• McClain finished 8-of-15 from the floor, and 4-of-9 from three
• Flowers, who also finished with 22 points, went 9-of13 from the floor
• Kimbrough (14 points), and Shriver (12) joined McClain and Flowers in double digits
• Shriver finished with a team-high eight rebounds
• Hartford held a slim 35-27 rebounding advantage
• UMBC outshot the Hawks 50.0 percent (25-of-50) to 49.2 percent (32-of-65)

 
NEXT ON TAP
The Hawks wrap up a three-game homestand with a visit from NJIT on Saturday. Saturday's contest will serve as Senior Day for Hartford. Tipoff from Chase Arena at Reich Family Pavilion is set for 2 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