BOX SCORE

PHILADELPHIA - The University of Hartford men's basketball team lost to Niagara University, 103-63, in the championship game of the Liberty bracket at the 2008 Philly Hoop Group Classic on Saturday afternoon at The Palestra.

Hartford (2-5 overall), a team accustomed to using the three-pointer as a weapon, found itself on the opposite end of a 17-of-35 shooting performance by Niagara (5-1 overall) from behind the arc. The Purple Eagles shot 48 percent for the contest and outscored the Hawks 22-7 at the free throw line.

Junior Joe Zeglinski joined four Niagara players on the all-tournament team for the Liberty bracket. He finished the game with 13 points?all of which came in the first half?and added a team-high six rebounds. Sophomore Morgan Sabia scored nine of his team-high 14 points in the second half. Rob Garrison led four Niagara players in double figures with 19 points.

The Hawks kept pace with the Purple Eagles through the first seven minutes, but a 10-0 run gave Niagara a 26-14 lead with 10:05 to play in the first half. Niagara did more damage in the final six minutes of the contest. After Zeglinski hit a three to pull Hartford to within eight at 34-26, the Purple Eagles closed the half with 18 straight points for a 52-26 lead.

After making nine three-pointers in the first half, Niagara kept bombing away in the second stanza, building its lead to 30 with 15:30 to play. The Purple Eagles made eight treys in the second half, and seven players finished with a three-point field goal in the contest. Benn Bilal led the way with a 4-of-5 effort from long range.

Hartford shot 41 percent for the game but hit only 8-of-28 attempts from behind the arc. Senior Michael Turner played only 16 minutes due to foul trouble but finished with eight points. Classmate Jaret von Rosenberg had nine points and a team-high five assists.

Hartford returns to action on December 4 at home against Lafayette College. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Chase Arena at Reich Family Pavilion.