FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Mike Dunne notched a season-high 17 points Saturday, unfortunately, it wasn't enough as the Hartford men's basketball team fell to Sacred Heart 78-71 at the William H. Pitt Center.

After Briggs McClain pulled the Hawks to within a point, the Pioneers responded with back-to-back scores on consecutive possessions to extend the lead to five points.

Hartford raced out to a fast start and led for the majority of the first half, leading by as much as seven. A 13-4 Sacred Heart run enabled the Pioneers to take their first lead of the game, but the Hawks refused to go away as the lead changed hands three more times before SHU scored eight of the final 11 points of the half for the advantage going into the break.

Defense was imperative in the second half as the Hawks stayed in contact with Sacred Heart even during a nearly seven-minute scoring drought in which Hartford missed nine consecutive shots. However, the deficit only grew two points, from three to five, in that stretch. The deficit would eventually grow to as much as eight, however, the black-clad Hawks had one last gasp.

Four different players found the scorebook as Hartford tallied 13 of the next 20 points, culminated by the aforementioned three-point play by McClain getting to within one.

McClain finished with 17 points and three rebounds, while Henderson finished 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting.

INSIDE BOX & NOTES

• It's just the fifth time this season Hartford has connected on at least nine three-pointers, and they are now 3-2 in those games.
• Hartford played most of the second half with two of the top three scorers – Jared Kimbrough and Kurtis Henderson – both from injuries.
• The game was the first of four consecutive road games.
• McClain has now reached double figures in 11 of his 14 games.
• Kimbrough had his string of three straight double-figure scoring games come to an end.
• McClain has now reached double figures 11 times this season, and Henderson has reached the scoring achievement 10 times this year.

NEXT ON TAP
Hartford (4-13) travels to Brooklyn 7 p.m. Tuesday for the third and final meeting with Saint Francis College Brooklyn this season.