The University of Hartford men’s basketball team traveled from West Hartford to Chestnut Hill, MA, where the team concluded its non-conference schedule with a dramatic win.

Submitted by University of Hartford Athletic Department

Seniors Jason Dunne and J.R. Lynch combined for 49 points as Hartford men’s basketball stunned Boston College in overtime with a thrilling, 79-78 victory inside Conte Forum Monday night. Lynch, who recorded a pair of key buckets in the extra session, finished with a team-best 26 points as the Hawks conclude non-conference action with a 7-8 mark.
 
Ky Bowman had an impressive outing with 41 points for BC (9-3), which held a three-point lead heading into the final seconds of regulation. Dunne, who finished with 23 points for the Hawks, sent the game into extra time after getting fouled in the act of shooting a three with four seconds remaining and making all three attempts.
 
Hartford led by as many as 10 in the first half, but BC capitalized on a stretch of cold shooting by the Hawks and used a 13-5 push to cut the visiting team’s advantage to three (33-30) at the break. Lynch and Dunne already reached double figures before the break, registering 10 points apiece.
 
The Eagles opened the second with five-straight points to take a 35-33 edge with 18:17 left in regulation, but two runs by each side would result in a 47-47 deadlock with 12:31 to go. From there, the lead would go back-and-forth until a three-minute scoreless stretch by the Hawks allowed the Eagles to take a 66-64 advantage with 1:34 to go.  
 
Senior George Blagojevichad a chance to draw the teams even from the free-throw line with 10 seconds left, but a pair of misses resulted in BC extending its advantage to three on a 1-of-2 effort from the line by Bowman. Junior RomainBoxus, who was fouled on the ensuing possession, cut the deficit to one, but Bowman was again sent to the line with 8.3 seconds left, where he would push the Eagles’ lead back to three.
 
With just four seconds remaining in regulation, Dunne was fouled in the act of shooting a three. The senior calmly hit all three free throws to tie up the game at 69-69, and BC’s final attempt in regulation was off the mark to force overtime.
 
A 6-2 run to open the extra session quickly put BC on top. But the Hawks finished the game strong, outscoring the Eagles, 8-1, down the stretch. Lynch came up with two big plays, first knotting up the score at 74-all on an old-fashioned three-point play before giving the Hawks the lead for good after driving to the rim and finishing with 74 seconds to play. With Hartford up by four, Bowman would drill a triple at the buzzer to close the gap to one.
 
Inside the box and notes

• The Hawks forced 19 Boston College turnovers, turning those miscues into 22 points on the other end
• Lynch and Dunne’s 20-plus point efforts marked the third time this season that Hartford lands two 20-point scorers in the same game
• Lynch extended his double-figure scoring streak to 11 games, while Dunne pushed his rally to 10 games
• Behind a 12-of-14 effort from the free-throw line by Lynch, Hartford cashed in on 23-of-29 attempts
• A total of four Hawks scored in double figures, as Carroll and Blagojevicfinished with 11 and 10, respectively
• Carroll pulled down eight rebounds, while Blagojeviccame away with a career-high six steals

 
Next on tap

Hartford is off for the next nine days before it opens America East play by welcoming reigning America East Champion UMBC to Reich Family Pavilion on Wednesday, Jan. 9. The Hawks and Retrievers are slated for a 7 p.m. tip. 
 
Tickets for the Hawks’ league opener can be purchased by calling 860-768-HAWK or by clicking here. 

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