BIDDEFORD, MAINE – Freshman Kaosi Chikioke hit the first of two free throws with one second remaining as the University of Hartford's men's basketball team closed the game on an 11-2 run to complete the double-digit comeback to knock off Commonwealth Coast Conference foe the University of New England Tuesday, 63-62, inside the Harold Alfond Forum. 

Chijioke rebounded a missed layup and was fouled on his attempt with one-second remaining. Even as UNE attempted to freeze the freshman with a timeout, Chijioke calmly stepped to the line, hit the first, and intentionally missed the second to drain more time off the clock. The Nor'easters were able to secure a timeout, but with 0.7 seconds remaining, all they could manage was a 3/4 court shot that fell short. 

The fact that the game-winning points came off an offensive rebound was indicative of how the game transpired. Hartford pulled down a season-high 22 offensive rebounds which led to 24 second-chance points. 

During the aforementioned 11-2 run, it was the Hartford defense that led the way. The Hawks forced four turnovers and held UNE to just 1-of-4 shooting over the final 3:20 of the contest. Four different Hartford players scored in the run with graduate Trayon Rumley, freshman Henry Herman, and Chijioke all scoring three points, and freshman Stephen Akwiwu netting a pair of points. 

The University of New England opened the game by scoring nine of the first 11 points and never trailed in the first half. The game was tied at 25 for 14 seconds before UNE hit a three-pointer to take the lead into the break. 

Hartford took its first lead of the game with a little over 16 minutes remaining as Beluolisah Oranye connected on a layup. It set off a chain of events that led to two ties and eight lead changes. Eventually, the Nor'esters created some cushion, but the prosperity was merely fleeting as the Hawks found a way to secure the victory. 

Herman finished the game with 18 points on 6-of-13 shooting, including a career-high five three-pointers. He added two assists and a pair of steals.

Three other Hartford Hawks scored in double digits Rumley added 14 points, Akwiwu 12 points, and Oranye 11 points. Akwiwu secured the double-double with a career-high 17 rebounds. It was the most rebounds by a Hartford player this season. Oranye had 13 rebounds to secure his second double-double of the season. 

Rumley dished out a career-high six assists and Oranye had a career-best four blocks. 

INSIDE THE BOX & NOTES

• Hartford snapped a three-game losing streak and went 3-3 over the six-game road swing. 
• Akwiwu has reached double-figures eight times this season and now has five double-doubles on the season. 
• It was the fourth time this season, four Hawks scored in double-figures.
• It was the second time this season, two Hawks posted double-doubles. The other time it was also Akwiwu and Oranye, who achieved the feat against Albertus Magnus. 
• The second time the lineup of Herman, Rumley, Akwiwu, Oranye, and freshman Joshua Petion started the game. Hartford has now used seven different starting lineups this season. 
• Hartford has now won three straight games against CCC foes. 

WHAT'S NEXT
Hartford (5-6 overall, 3-1 CCC opponents) returns to the friendly confines of Chase Arena for the first time since November, hosting Western New England 7:30 p.m. Thursday.