The University of Hartford men's basketball team fell behind early, and never led, in falling to Commonwealth Coast Conference foe Wentworth Saturday, 82-67, inside the Chase Family Arena at the Reich Family Pavilion.

Wentworth scored 25 of the first 33 points, including a 19-3 run, that enabled the visitors to take a 17-point lead. Hartford settled in and eventually pulled to within four on the strength of a 16-3 spurt. Unfortunately, the Leopards had an answer to push the lead back to double figures.

Hartford pulled to as close as seven early in the second half and trailed by as much as 19 points.

Freshman Kaosi Chijioke scored a career-high 19 points on 6-of-14 shooting with a team-high eight boards. Senior Beluolisah Oranye added a season-high 12 points and six boards, while freshman Stephen Akwiwu finished with 10 points and six rebounds.

INSIDE THE BOX & NOTES

• It's the first time Chijioke has led the team in scoring and the second time in double figures. He has led the team in rebounding seven times.
• Akwiwu has scored at least 10 points 14 times this season.
• Oranye has reached double-figure scoring three times this season and was one point away from his career high.
• It's just the second time this season Hartford has allowed more than 80 points.
• Hartford is in the midst of a season-long four-game losing streak and has lost six consecutive games at home.

WHAT'S NEXT
Hartford (6-13, 4-8 CCC opponents) hosts CCC-foe Roger Williams 7:30 Wednesday. Hartford fell to RWU, 74-61, on January 9th.