Hartford shot a season-high 52 percent, including 67 percent in the first half, and snapped a five-game losing streak with a 76-70 win over UMBC in Baltimore on Tuesday.
The Hawks (5-19, 5-7 AE), who improved to 5-7 in conference play, are just a half game behind Maine for fifth place and are tied with the Black Bears in the loss column. UMBC (3-20, 2-9 AE) jumped out to a 33-23 first-half advantage on the heels of a 17-5 run, but Hawks countered with an 18-4 run to take a lead they would not relinquish.
Nate Sikma paced Hartford with 20 points, seven rebounds and five assists while Andres Torres added 13 points and seven assists. Chase Plummer tallied a career-high 28 points on 11-of-14 shooting for the Retrievers.
On Monday, road teams went 3-0 with Boston University, Stony Brook and Vermont picking up wins away from home
Boston U. (13-13, 9-3 AE) roared back from a 17-point
deficit to upend Albany (15-11, 7-5 AE), 81-78. The Terriers shot 57
percent after halftime and held the Great Danes to just 31 percent.
Darryl Partin fueled the comeback, scoring 25 of his career and America
East season-high 33 points in the second half. Gerard Suero tallied 28
for Albany.
Stony Brook
(16-7, 11-1 AE) extended its win streak to seven games and held onto
first place in the league standings with a 57-48 win over New Hampshire.
The Seawolves, who have won 12 of their last 13, shot just 31 percent
but outrebounded the Wildcats 40-24 and converted 26-of-33 free throws
en route to the win. Tommy Brenton had a team-high 14 points for Stony
Brook, while Alvin Abreu led UNH with a game-high 19 points.
Vermont
(16-10, 10-2 AE) kept pace with Stony Brook by beating Maine (11-11, 5-6
AE), 73-63. The win, the Catamounts' seventh straight and 10th in their
last 11 games, helped head coach John Becker set a program record for
wins during his first season in Burlington. Matt Glass led UVM with 17
points while Gerald McLemore pace Maine with 20.
Action resumes on Thursday with three games. Albany visits New Hampshire, Boston U. hosts Maine and Stony Brook entertains UMBC.
Recent Results
Tuesday, February 7
Hartford 76, at UMBC 60 -- Box Score
Monday, February 6
Boston U. 81, at Albany 78-- Box Score
Stony Brook 57, at New Hampshire 48 -- Box Score
Vermont 73, at Maine 63 -- Box Score