Box Score

ALBANY, N.Y. – The Hartford men's basketball team hung on for a 64-62 victory at Albany on Wednesday night, wrapping up the first half of their America East schedule at 4-4. Junior Joe Zeglinski led all scorers with 21 points. He was 3-for-9 from beyond the arc, moving past Aaron Cook and into the top spot in the Hartford record books with 278 career three-pointers made.

Fittingly, a Zeglinski three-pointer with just under three minutes remaining proved to be Hartford's final field goal, giving the Hawks a 61-57 lead at the time. He would add two free throws, with Joel Barkers also knocking one down, to provide the final points.

Zeglinski and Albany's Tim Ambrose were named the Nestle PurinaONE America East Players of the Game. Morgan Sabia added 12 points for the Hawks, while Anthony Minor started and scored a season-high eight points.

“I don't know Aaron too well, but I know he was a great teammate and a great person,” Zeglinski said after the game. “He was obviously a tremendous shooter, and there were a lot of great shooters in the past. I'm honored to be first ahead of some of the great players Hartford has had.”

Hartford never trailed in the first half, but relinquished the lead early in the second stanza. Albany moved in front on two free throws from Logan Aronhalt, claiming a 39-37 lead with 15:39 to play. Although they would edge back in front two more times, that would prove to be the largest lead of the night for the Great Danes.

Meanwhile, the Hawks could not provide much more separation, never leading by more than four in the second half. Freshman Charles White, who finished with nine points and three rebounds, added two steals while playing tenacious defense against the Great Danes' outside scoring weapons of Tim Ambrose and Logan Aronhalt.

The first half was all Hawks, as they led by as many as 12 points and quieted the crowd of 2,288 at SEFCU Arena. Albany was able to stay in the game thanks in large part to shooting 8-of-10 from the charity stripe, while the Hawks shot early in many possessions and did not earn a free throw in the half.

With just over three minutes remaining in the first half, sophomore Clayton Brothers found Zeglinski deep beyond the three-point arc on the right wing. The junior from Philadelphia hadn't hit 276 career three-pointers by shying away from the deep bombs, though, and he claimed the Hartford record for his own with an NBA-range three-pointer that put Hartford in front, 31-22.

Albany closed the half on an 8-2 run, and the Hawks went into the break up 33-30. Zeglinski's 12 points led all scorers. Milton Burton had six points at the break on two three-pointers.

Morgan Sabia was the only Hawk besides Zeglinski to finish in double figures, scoring 12 points to go along with five rebounds. Sabia provided one of the big shots of the game, answering the first Albany lead with a three-pointer from the top of the key to put the Hawks right back on top. Sabia moved up the three-point charts as well, going 2-for-6 to move into third place. He passed Mantas Storpirstis and now has 172.

"Road wins are huge in this conference," Zeglinski remarked. "They are what separates teams from each other. To be able to get a couple wins like we have in the past few weeks is huge."

Hartford will be back in action next Wednesday when they welcome Stony Brook into Chase Arena at 7 p.m.