SB Nation Boston - Boston University 64, Hartford 55: Terriers Hold Off Hawks On Senior Dayhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48863/boston-fave.png2012-02-25T17:27:29-05:00http://boston.sbnation.com/rss/stream/25881672012-02-25T17:27:29-05:002012-02-25T17:27:29-05:00Boston University Vs. Hartford Final Score: Terriers Avoid Collapse, Earn 64-55 Victory
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<p>Boston University looked like they would cruise to a double-digit lead at several points during the second half but needed three late Hartford turnovers to ensure their five seniors would leave Case Gym on a high note. Hartford (8-21, 7-9 America East) still had plenty to play for Saturday against the Terriers but couldn't overcome their youth against a Boston University (16-15, 12-4 AE) squad that matched last season's conference record at 12-4.</p>
<p>Darryl Partin, one of five Terrier seniors, led the way on Senior Day with a game-high 21 points as Boston University earned the 64-55 victory. Partin connected on 7-of-16 attempts from the field and collected five rebounds for the Terriers who enter next weekend's America East Tournament on a two-game winning streak.</p>
<p>Senior guard Matt Griffin (eight points) and senior forward <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/52174/jeff-pelage">Jeff Pelage</a> (seven points) got the rare start and played big roles on the Terriers fifth consecutive Senior Day victory. Pelage knocked down both of his field goal attempts (two big dunks) and chipped in four rebounds and Griffin finished with five assists and five rebounds, as the Terriers swept their fifth America East opponent.</p>
<p>Freshmen guard Yolonzo Moore II led the Hawks with 17 points on 5-of-10 shooting from the field. Fellow freshmen <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/145422/mark-nwakamma">Mark Nwakamma</a> was one of the most effective Hartford players despite only playing 14 minutes before fouling out. Nwakamma was one of three Hartford players to finish in double figures (11 points on 5-of-6 shooting). Senior point guard <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/25379/andres-torres">Andres Torres</a> finished with 12 points and six assist but also added seven turnovers, including two late giveaways with the game still close.</p>
<p>Boston University held double-digit leads at two separate junctures of the second half but struggled to put away a young Hartford team.</p>
<p>After taking 15 threes (5-of-15) in the first half, Hartford attempted just 10 (1-of-10) in the second half as they attempted to attack inside. With Nwakamma in the lineup Hartford attacked the Terriers using backdoor cuts and cut the deficit to a single possession twice, but they couldn't sustain the advantage without the talented freshmen in the lineup.</p>
<p>Head coach Joe Jones went with his seniors to start the game-as <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/123251/chris-kurz">Chris Kurz</a> made his first start and was joined by <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/26068/patrick-hazel">Patrick Hazel</a>, Partin, Griffin and Pelage.</p>
<p>After a <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/145427/nate-sikma">Nate Sikma</a> three pointer cut the deficit to 58-55 for the Hawks with 2:47 left, the Terrers found a way to close out the game with a 6-3 run. Boston University forced three Hartford turnovers and the Hawks added two errant 3-pointers over the final two minutes. Partin added a huge basket off an offensive rebound, one of 13 Terriers offensive rebounds on the day, to open up a 60-55 lead and sophomore <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/123249/travis-robinson">Travis Robinson</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/123246/d-j-irving">D.J. Irving</a> hit two free throws each to ice the game.</p>
<p>Boston University will have the week off before they America East Tournament Quarterfinals next Saturday. The Terriers had wrapped up the third seed several weeks ago and are still awaiting their opponent.</p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/2012/2/25/2824277/boston-university-vs-hartford-final-score-terriers-avoid-collapseorenskys2012-02-25T16:02:47-05:002012-02-25T16:02:47-05:00Boston University Vs. Hartford: Terriers Overcome Slow Start To Grab 31-21 Halftime Lead
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<p>With nothing to play for in the standings, Boston University started slow against the visiting <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/hartford-hawks">Hartford Hawks</a> after honoring the team's five seniors. Unfortunately for the Hawks, the Terriers came alive late in the first session behind seniors Darryl Partin (eight points) and Matt Griffin (six points).</p>
<p>Boston University holds their largest lead of the game heading into the break at 31-,behind a 13-3 run over the final 5:21 of the first half. Sophomore forward <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/123248/dom-morris">Dom Morris</a> added seven points and four rebounds for the Terriers who are looking to win their fifth consecutive Senior Day game.</p>
<p>Senior guard <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/25379/andres-torres">Andres Torres</a> led the Hawks with eight points and four assists on 2-of-5 shooting. Freshmen guard Yolonzo Moore II tied Torres for the team lead in points with eight points in 16 minutes.</p>
<p>The Terriers shot 52.4 (11-of-21) percent for the half and grabbed 17 rebounds compared to just 33.3 percent (7-of-21) and nine rebounds for the Hawks.</p>
<p>With the score tied at 18-18 after nearly 15 minutes, the Terriers went on an 8-0 run behind two Griffin 3-pointers. After a Moore three cut the Terriers lead to 26-21, Morris scored five of his seven points in the final 78 seconds to give the Terriers the 10-point lead.</p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/2012/2/25/2824133/boston-university-vs-hartford-terriers-overcome-slow-start-to-grab-31orenskys2012-02-25T13:14:05-05:002012-02-25T13:14:05-05:00Boston University Vs. Hartford: Terriers Host Hartford On Senior Day
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<p>Boston University will look to win their fifth consecutive Senior Day game when they host a Hartford team that is still battling to solidify their seeding in next weekend's America East Conference Tournament. </p> <p>Darryl Partin, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/26068/patrick-hazel">Patrick Hazel</a> and three Boston University seniors will be honored Saturday afternoon when the Terriers (15-15, 11-4 America East) host Hartford (8-20, 7-8 AE) at Case Gymnasium at 3 p.m. (TV: None/Radio: 1510 WWZN AM).</p>
<p>The Terriers will honor seniors Matt Griffin, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/123251/chris-kurz">Chris Kurz</a>, Partin, Hazel and the only four year senior on the squad <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/52174/jeff-pelage">Jeff Pelage</a>, as part of the Senior Day Ceremonies before the game. The group was integral to last season's run to the NCAA Tournament with Partin and Hazel regular starters and Pelgae and Griffin playing big minutes off the bench. Kurz who has played minimal minutes throughout his three years at Boston University scored his first career basket in Wednesday's win over the University of Maryland-Baltimore County (UMBC).</p>
<p>While Boston University wrapped up the third seed in the America East Conference over a week ago, they will face off against a Hartford squad that still has plenty to play for in their final regular season game. The Hawks have won four of 'their past five games and can wrap the fifth seed in next week's conference tournament with a victory; a loss could drop them down to the sixth spot and a date with the Terriers, the team that has ended their season the past two seasons in the conference tournament.</p>
<p>In the first meeting between these two teams, Boston University put the clamps on Hartford defensively, holding the Hawks to just 13 first-half points and 20.8 percent (5-24) shooting from the field. The Terriers rolled on to a 65-46 victory behind 22 points from Partin and 15 points from sophomore point guard <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/123246/d-j-irving">D.J. Irving</a>. Hartford, a team that largely relies on their 3-point shooting, knocked down just 4-of-21 (19 percent) attempts from behind the arc, including missing all 11 attempts in the first half.</p>
<p>Wednesday the Terriers ended their two-game losing streak with an easy 73-52 victory over UMBC. Boston University led from start to finish in the contest, with Partin leading four Terrier players in double figures with 17 points. Freshmen guard <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/145119/zach-chionuma">Zach Chionuma</a> finished with a career-high 12 points off the bench, as the Terriers reached the 11 win mark in conference play for the fourth straight season.</p>
<p>Success hasn't come as easily for the Hawks, who haven't won more than seven games in conference play since the 2007-08 season when they made it all the way to the America East Championship Game. Second-year head coach John Gallagher has done a fantastic job with a young roster and made the Hawks competitive after a winless nonconference season (1-12-only win came in BracketBuster play).</p>
<p>Point guard <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/25379/andres-torres">Andres Torres</a>, one of just three seniors on the squad, leads the team in scoring (11.5 ppg) and assists (4.1 apg). Four of the team's next top five scorers are freshmen, as Gallagher has started freshmen 68 times this season (140 opportunities). Freshmen Nate Sikma leads the team with 4.3 rebounds per game and fellow first-year <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/145422/mark-nwakamma">Mark Nwakamma</a> is second on the team in scoring at 8.8 points per game.</p>
<p>Prediction: Boston University has won eight of their past nine against Hartford and haven't lost at home during that stretch. This should be an easy win for a Terriers squad who always seem to play their best basketball heading into the America East Conference Tournament and love putting on a show on Senior Day. Unless Hartford can knock down well more than the 7.4 3-pointers they average per game, the Terriers should have no problem due to their size advantage inside and balanced scoring.</p>
<p><b>Boston University 75, Hartford 67</b></p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/2012/2/25/2823834/boston-university-vs-hartford-terriers-host-hartford-on-senior-day-2012-darryl-partin-patrick-hazelorenskys