WEST HARTFORD, Conn. -- Mark Nwakamma scored 12 points and Nate Sikma 11 as Hartford held off New Hampshire for a 49-44 America East Conference win Wednesday night.
Nwakamma hit two free throws to give the lead back to the Hawks, 38-37 with 5:55 remaining, after New Hampshire had rallied from an 11-point deficit early in the second half.Just under a minute later, two free throws by Sikma gave Hartford (15-12, 8-6) the lead for good after the Wildcats (7-18, 3-10) had regained a one-point advantage.Nwakamma hit four free throws in the final 11 seconds to secure the victory.Chandler Rhoads scored 16 points for New Hampshire, whose only lower output this season was a 51-40 loss to Hartford on Jan. 24The teams combined to shoot 22 percent (11 of 50) in the first half, which ended with Hartford leading 18-12. New Hampshire made just 4 of 22 shots (18.2 percent).
