NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Kevin Crawford (Bridgeport, Conn.) led four Falcons in double-figures with 23 points as the Albertus Magnus College men's basketball team defeated the University of Hartford, 85-78 on Tuesday evening at The Nest on the campus of Albertus Magnus.

THE BASICS
FINAL: Albertus Magnus 85 | University of Hartford 78
RECORDS: Albertus Magnus (2-0) | University of Hartford (1-2)

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Falcons jumped out of the gates taking an early 11-3 lead as five different Falcons scored during the early run, led by Crawford with three. Crawford capped the run with a traditional and-one as he hit his layup and free throw.

• The Hawks rallied back to get within six points at 16-12 at the 10:13 mark after a 7-0 run led by five straight points from Lamonte Duffas.

• Albertus followed with an 11-2 run to take its biggest lead of the game at 27-14 at the 6:21 mark. Crawford electrified the crowd with a dunk during the run and Tazhon Daniels (New Haven, Conn.) scored five points, including a three.

• Hartford closed on a 21-8 run the rest of the first half to tie the game at 35-35. The Hawks took advantage of five Albertus turnovers in the final six minutes. Trayon Rumley scored seven points for the Hawks during the late first half run.

• Antonio Bonilla (Tenafly, N.J.) opened the second half with a three to give Albertus the lead back at 38-35. 

• Hartford took its first and only lead of the game on a dunk from Stephen Akwiwu with 16:23 remaining. The lead was held briefly as Bonilla responded with his second three of the half to put Albertus up 47-46.

• The Falcons used the next nine minutes to go on a 22-13 run, highlighted by dunks from Justice Washington (Hamden, Conn.) and Avery Hinnant (Naugatuck, Conn.).

• The Hawks didn't go away, getting to within three after a three-pointer from Rumley at the 7:27 mark. 

• Albertus however, never relinquished the lead as the Falcons went 8-for-10 from the free throw line over the final 2:02 to hold on to the win.

TEAM STATS
Albertus Magnus: 41.5 FG% | 27.8 3PT% | 68.4 FT%
Hartford: 48.4 FG% | 33.3 3PT% | 62.5 FT% 

INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCES
Albertus
Kevin Crawford 23 Points | 9-14 FG | 4 Rebounds | 4 Assists
Justice Washington 14 Points | 9 Rebounds | 3 Steals
Antonio Bonilla 12 Points | 3-8 3PT 
Tazhon Daniels 11 Points | 8-8 FT | 7 Rebounds | 4 Assists
Malcolm Duncanson (West Haven, Conn.) 6 Points | 5 Assists | 4 Rebounds | 2 Steals

Hartford
Stephen Akwiwu 23 Points | 10-17 FG | 10 Rebounds
Trayon Rumley 17 Points | 7 Rebounds | 5 Assists
Beluolisah Oranye 11 Points | 10 Rebounds

NOTEWORTHY

• Crawford's 23 points were a career-high, surpassing his previous high of 21.

• It was the first meeting between the two teams.

• The Falcons won their first two games of the season for the first time since 2021-22.

• There were four ties and two lead changes.

• Albertus dominated in the paint, outsourcing the Hawks, 46-34.

• Hinnant had a career-high three blocks.

• The 38 free throw attempts were the most for Albertus since a win over Regis in the 2021-22 season when they shot 39 free throws.

UP NEXT
The Falcons play at Montclair State on Thursday, November 16 at 7 p.m.