ALBANY, N.Y. -- Jaret von Rosenberg scored 21 points, 18 in the second half, to lead ninth-seeded Hartford to a 65-56 win over eighth-seeded Maine in the first round of the 2009 America East Men's Basketball Championship at SEFCU Arena on the University at Albany campus Friday evening. The Hawks, last season's conference runner-up, advance to the quarterfinals to take on top-seeded Binghamton Saturday at 6 p.m.
Hartford led 33-28 at the break before von Rosenberg keyed an early second half run to widen the lead to double digits. Maine rallied with a late 15-6 run of its own to cut the deficit to 54-53 with 2:33 to go. Andres Turner made a clutch three-pointer and von Rosenberg hit six straight free throws down the stretch to close out the Black Bears.
In the deciding second half, von Rosenberg hit five of seven from the floor and all six from the line to pace the Hawks. The senior guard also went over the 1,000-point mark for his career in the stanza.
Morgan Sabia added 13 points and five rebounds for the Hawks who snapped a 14-game losing streak with the victory.
Hartford shot 51 percent from the field and made 11-of-13 from the line while turning the ball over only nine times. The Black Bears shot 48 percent from the floor and out-rebounded the Hawks, 29-20, but they were hurt by committing 18 turnovers.
Freshman Gerald McLemore had a team-high 13 points including three of eight from three-point range and Sean McNally added nine points and seven boards for Maine which ends its season at 9-21.
2009 America East Men's Basketball Championship
at University at Albany’s SEFCU Arena (Albany, N.Y.)
Friday, March 6
Session I - First Round Game
Game 1 - No. 9 Hartford 65, No. 8 Maine 56 -- Recap| Box Score | Postgame Quotes
Saturday, March 7
Session II - Quarterfinal Games
Game 2 ? No. 2 Vermont vs. No. 7 Albany, 12:07 p.m. (Time Warner Sports)
Game 3 ? No. 3 Boston U. vs. No. 6 UMBC, 2:30 p.m.* (Time Warner Sports)
*time approximate, game will begin 30 minutes following conclusion of prior game
Session III - Quarterfinal Games
Game 4 ? No. 1 Binghamton vs. Hartford, 6:07 p.m. (Time Warner Sports)
Game 5 ? No. 4 New Hampshire vs. No. 5 Stony Brook, 8:30 p.m. (Time Warner Sports)
*time approximate, game will begin 30 minutes following conclusion of prior game
Sunday, March 8
Session IV - Semifinal Games
Game 6 - Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3, 2:04 p.m. (MASN/Time Warner Sports/Comcast SportsNet-taped delay)
Game 7 - Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 5:04 p.m. (Comcast SportsNet/Time Warner Sports/MASN-taped delay)
Saturday, March 14, at home court of higher seeded team
Session V - Championship Game
Game 8 - Winner Game 6 vs. Winner Game 7, 11:02 a.m. (ESPN2 )