WEST HARTFORD, CT - Deon Saunders' three-point play with 2.8 seconds remaining lifted Hartford to a 64-61 victory over Northeastern in America East men's basketball action on Saturday afternoon at the Chase Family Arena. A halfcourt heave by NU's Jermaine Hancock as time expired was almost good as it hit the back of the rim and bounced out.
Saunders scored a career-high 20 points to lead all scorers, while Ryan Stys (12 points) and Josh Odugbela (10 points) chipped in for the Hawks as well. NU was led by senior Jean Bain's 19 points.
With NU trailing by four, 61-57, with 58 seconds remaining, the Huskies had the ball for a crucial possession. Bain's jumper cut the Hawk lead to two, 61-59, with 42 seconds to go and then Stys turned the ball over on Hartford's next possession.
Bain once again answered the call with a jumper at the top of the key to tie the game at 61 with 14 ticks remaining on the clock. Hartford gave the ball to Saunders as the rest of the team cleared out. He was able to get by NU's Toby Brittian off the dribble and penetrated the lane. A rotating Sylbrin Robinson tried to take the charge for NU, but officials whistled him with the foul and counted Saunders layup that dropped in.
NU called a timeout following the Saunders' free throw and devised a play. Hartford defended the fullcourt inbounds play well as Hancock's halfcourt look was as close as the Huskies could get.
The Huskies led by as many as 13 in the first half, up 19-6 with 10:54 to go. Hartford chipped away at NU's lead and trailed by only four, 29-25, at intermission.
Ron Everhart's squad came out of the break and pushed its lead to a second-half high nine points twice within the first eight minutes of action. Hartford would once again respond as they closed out the game on a 29-17 run to come away with the victory.
NU's Jamaar Walker had a game-high eight assists with just one turnover. His lone turnover proved costly, coming with 1:11 remaining and resulting directly in a Hartford layup.
Northeastern falls to 3-10 on the season and 1-1 in America East play, while Hartford improved to 4-10 overall and 2-0 in conference action.
Next up for Northeastern is America East foe Vermont at home on Monday, Jan. 7 at 7 p.m. at Solomon Court.
VISITORS: Northeastern University 3-10, 1-1
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
03 NLANDU, Lunzaya..... f 1-1 0-0 0-0 1 4 5 5 2 0 0 0 0 16
14 BRITTIAN, Toby...... f 4-7 1-2 0-1 0 2 2 1 9 0 2 1 1 24
33 ROBINSON, Sylbrin... c 4-6 0-1 1-3 4 1 5 5 9 1 2 1 2 28
05 BAIN, Jean.......... g 8-18 3-10 0-3 1 2 3 4 19 3 1 0 0 32
20 WALKER, Jamaar...... g 0-4 0-0 1-2 1 1 2 2 1 8 1 0 1 26
01 HANCOCK, Jermaine... 0-3 0-2 0-0 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 10
04 WEST, Tim........... 2-3 0-0 1-2 2 0 2 0 5 0 2 0 0 18
12 DAVIS, Aaron........ 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 5
21 JOHNSON, Antonio.... 3-10 2-5 0-0 2 0 2 1 8 0 1 0 0 15
22 CRANFORD, Ricky..... 2-5 0-2 0-0 0 0 0 2 4 0 2 0 0 11
25 RANDALL, Q.......... 1-2 0-0 0-1 1 1 2 2 2 0 1 0 1 9
42 BURKEBENNETT, Meshak 1-1 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 4 2 0 0 0 0 6
TEAM................ 1 3 4
Totals.............. 26-61 6-22 3-12 13 16 29 27 61 13 14 2 5 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 13-31 41.9% 2nd Half: 13-30 43.3% Game: 42.6% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 3-14 21.4% 2nd Half: 3-8 37.5% Game: 27.3% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 0-1 0.0% 2nd Half: 3-11 27.3% Game: 25.0% 2
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HOME TEAM: University of Hartford 4-10, 2-0
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
25 AMOUS, Junior....... f 2-3 0-0 1-2 1 4 5 5 5 0 3 0 0 18
34 ODUGBELA, Josh...... f 3-6 0-0 4-6 3 6 9 5 10 0 2 2 1 33
44 JOHNSON, Pierre..... f 3-5 0-0 2-6 4 8 12 3 8 0 2 1 2 34
10 FORD, Charles....... g 2-4 0-1 2-4 1 1 2 1 6 4 3 0 0 20
20 STYS, Ryan.......... g 4-11 2-6 2-2 1 3 4 3 12 1 3 0 4 30
03 STORPIRSTIS, Mantas. 0-4 0-3 2-2 0 1 1 0 2 0 0 0 1 14
13 McCLINTON, Wayne.... 0-0 0-0 0-0 1 0 1 1 0 1 2 0 1 9
15 SAUNDERS, Deon...... 6-11 0-1 8-11 1 3 4 0 20 0 4 2 0 34
23 GOODE, Trevor....... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0+
31 SWAN, Shaun......... 0-1 0-0 1-2 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 8
50 JONES, Todd......... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0+
TEAM................ 1 2 3
Totals.............. 20-45 2-11 22-35 13 29 42 19 64 7 19 5 9 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 9-21 42.9% 2nd Half: 11-24 45.8% Game: 44.4% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 1-6 16.7% 2nd Half: 1-5 20.0% Game: 18.2% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 6-14 42.9% 2nd Half: 16-21 76.2% Game: 62.9% 9
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Officials: Ben Vasconcells, Robert Patey, Stephen Uno
Technical fouls: Northeastern University-None. University of
Hartford-AMOUS, Junior.
Attendance: 1147
Score by Periods 1st 2nd Total
Northeastern University....... 29 32 - 61
University of Hartford........ 25 39 - 64
