ORONO – It was hard to tell which was colder Monday night: the temperature inside Alfond Arena or the Black Bears’ free-throw shooting.

The University of Maine men’s basketball team hit just 19 of 36 foul shots against the University of Hartford and the Hawks were able to rally from a 13-point deficit in the second half for a 76-71 America East victory.

The two biggest statistics from the game involved shooting: Maine’s from the foul line (52.8 percent) for the game and Hartford’s from 3-point range (57.1 percent) in the second half.

“I think it’s one of those thing where it’s somewhat in our minds right now and something we have to grow out of,” said Maine coach Ted Woodward of his team’s foul shooting. “I give them credit. They made a lot of tough 3-pointers, but a lot of those shots we missed at the line broke runs and slowed momentum for us.”

Sophomore guard Joe Zeglinski led Hartford’s 13-for-29 effort from behind the arc by canning six of 10 en route to a game-high 28 points.

“I was feeling it a little bit, but other guys stepped up and made a couple 3s and my guys were getting me open with good screens,” Zeglinski said.

Maine is now 5-13 overall and 1-4 in America East play while Hartford is 9-11 and 3-2, respectively, after notching its first road win of the season.

Maine junior Kaimondre Owes, playing much of the game at the point guard position, led the Bears with 19 points. He also had four assists and five rebounds. Sophomore Junior Bernal, who has been Maine’s regular at the point, played more as the off- or 2-guard and finished with 18 points, six rebounds, and four assists.

“Junior’s a scorer so we just tried to switch roles a bit so he could get out in the open court a bit and slash and get easy buckets,” said Owes. “I feel comfortable with the ball and we need more than one ballhandler, so I think that’s a major thing as well.”

Maine came out strong in the second half, scoring the first six points and eight of the first 10 to take a 44-31 lead, but the Hawks would can three 3-pointers to spark a 17-4 run that would tie the score at 48-all with 10 minutes left.

Hartford took a 56-52 lead with 7:27 to play, but Owes hit a 3-pointer from the left corner despite being fouled. He failed to convert the foul shot, but Mark Socoby regained the lead for Maine (58-57) with a 3-pointer from the right corner with 6:53 left.

The Bears went up 63-59 on another Socoby 3-pointer with 4:56 left, but the Hawks would answer with three straight 3-pointers – two by Zeglinski – and score 11 of the next 15 points to take the lead for good.

“His back-to-back 3s were huge, especially after we had just gotten a 3,” said Woodward. “That sequence gave them a lead we couldn’t take back over.”

Maine closed to 72-71 with 13 seconds left, but Hartford hit all four of its last free throws and the Bears were unable to score again.

Morgan Sabia had 13 points and eight rebounds for the Hawks, while Michael Turner added 12 points and seven boards.

Maine outrebounded Hartford 38-32 overall, scored more points off turnovers (29-19) and scored more points in the paint (22-18), but the Bears couldn’t overcome Hartford’s 51 percent shooting overall from the field for the game.

Maine outscored Hartford 12-5 in the final 41/2 minutes of the first half and finished with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from the right wing by Bernal off a rebound of his own missed shot to go into halftime with a 36-29 lead.

aneff@bangordailynews.net

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HAWKS 76, BLACK BEARS 71

Hartford (9-11) Maine (5-13)

Player G AG F AF TP Player G AG AF TP

Turner 3 5 5 7 12 Socoby 2 7 9

Minor 0 0 1 2 1 TchknBfia 2 5

Estes 0 1 0 0 0 Cook 1 5 2

Vn Rsnbrg 3 4 4 4 11 Bernal 7 13 18

Zeglinski 10 17 2 2 28 Owes 4 10 19

McLendon 2 3 1 3 5 McNally 2 6 5

Torres 1 2 0 0 3 Andre 1 3 4

Glowiak 1 6 0 0 3 Peay 3 7 9

Sabia 5 11 0 0 13

Totals 25 49 13 18 76 Totals 22 54 19 36 71

Hartford 29 76

Maine 36 71

3-pt. goals – Hartford (13-29): Zeglinski 6-10, Sabia 3-6, Turner 1-2, Von Rosenberg 1-2, Torres 1-2, Glowiak 1-6, McLendon 0-1; Maine (8-16): Owes 3-6, Peay 2-2, Socoby 2-6, Bernal 1-1, Tchekane Bofia 0-1

Attendance: 1,186 (tickets issued)