[ad_1]
Hawks Secure First Victory of the Season Against VSU – Johnson
Johnson, Vt. – The University of Hartford men’s basketball team clinched its first win of the 2024-25 season on Saturday, defeating Vermont State University – Johnson in a thrilling 86-83 matchup.
The game began with junior Drew Stack leading the charge, sinking multiple three-pointers to give the Hawks a quick 6-2 advantage. Sophomore Kaosi Chijioke also joined in, extending the lead to 10-4. Despite the Badgers narrowing the gap and briefly overtaking Hartford, Stack’s sharpshooting allowed the Hawks to regain control with an impressive halftime score of 46-36.
In the second half, the Badgers came back strong, cutting the lead to just six points. Although Hartford struggled to maintain its lead, late-game heroics from Stack and Chijioke proved vital. A key moment occurred when the Hawks trailed 83-82 in the final seconds; Stack hit a crucial jumper, followed by a steal and foul shots from freshman Troy Santos, sealing the victory for Hartford.
Post-game, Stack expressed pride in the team’s resilience, stating, “They were definitely a tough match-up size-wise, but we battled until the buzzer.” Stack was a standout performer, scoring a season-high 26 points, while teammates Chijioke and Reggie Selden added 15 and 18 points, respectively.
The Hawks outscored the Badgers significantly in bench points and three-pointers, showcasing their depth and perimeter shooting. VSU – Johnson’s Raymond Baka dominated with 30 points and 21 rebounds but couldn’t lead his team to victory.
Next up for Hartford is a home game against Colby-Sawyer College on November 19 at 7:30 PM. For more updates, follow Hartford Athletics on social media.
Source
Photo credit hartfordhawks.com
