Hartford Hangs On To Edge UMBC 76-70
BALTIMORE (AP) -- Nate Sikma scored 20 points as Hartford hung on to beat Maryland-Baltimore County 76-70 Tuesday night.
The Hawks (5-19, 5-7 America East Conference), who snapped a five-game losing streak, led throughout the second half, but UMBC (3-20, 2-9) cut the lead to one point five times, the last at 65-64 with 6:17 remaining after a jumper by Chase Plummer.
Plummer led the Retrievers with 28 points.
Andres Torres' 3-pointer gave Hartford a 68-64 lead and his layup with 2:42 remaining made it 71-66. UMBC never got closer than three points after that.
UMBC, which has lost five straight, led by as many as 10 points, 33-23, in the first half before a 14-2 Hartford run, capped by Sikma's 3-pointer. The Hawks went on to lead 44-41 at halftime.
Both teams shot exceptionally in the first half, Hartford made 66.7 percent (14 of 21) and UMBC 60.7 percent (17 of 28).
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
