The University of Hartford men's basketball team got off to a slow start Thursday, falling to Commonwealth Coast Conference foe Western New England, 63-50, inside the Chase Family Arena at Reich Family Pavilion.
 
Western New England scored 16 of the first 18 points, but the Golden Bears wouldn't just coast to the victory.
 
Hartford's deficit stood at 11 points with a little over three minutes remaining in the first half. Back-to-back fastbreak buckets by freshman Henry Herman and a fastbreak jumper by freshman Joshua Petion had the Hawks feeling better down by just five going to the locker room.
 
The Hawks stayed within striking distance for most of the second half, and had a chance to pull even, but missed one of two free throws with seven minutes remaining. The one-point deficit would be as close as Hartford would get.
 
WNE tacked on seven quick points to push the lead back to eight and Hartford couldn't put together another run.
 
Graduate Trayon Rumley led the team with 17 points on 4-of-15 shooting with five rebounds, while freshman Joshua Petion tied a career-high with eight rebounds and 10 points.


 
INSIDE THE BOX & NOTES

• Rumley has reached double figures in 10 of 12 games and six straight.
• Hartford played most of the game without leading rebounders, Beluolisah Oranye and Stephen Akwiwu, who pulled down eight boards with seven on the offensive end. However, the Hawks still held the edge on the glass.
• Hartford had 22 offensive rebounds which led to 18 second-chance points.
• The loss snapped a three-game CCC winning streak. The Hawks have lost four of the past five games.

WHAT'S NEXT
Hartford (5-7 overall, 3-2 CCC opponent) has a quick turnaround, hosting Endicott 3 p.m. Saturday.