For the second consecutive season, the Hartford Hawks Men’s Basketball team is heading back to the America East Championship game. The Hawks traveled up to the University of Vermont last Saturday for their Semi-Final matchup with the Vermont Catamounts. This game is sort of a rematch, considering both teams would have faced each other in the Championship game last season. Due to COVID-19, that game wasn’t able to take place.

Hartford was poised to make a splash during this game. The team was coming off of two big wins against #9 Binghampton and #5 Albany. With star players Austin Williams and Traci Carter firing on all cylinders, this game did not disappoint.

The Hawks took a 32-31 lead into the halftime break, having a hot start from the field. Hartford used a 20-9 scoring run to push their lead out to 11 with 11:18 left in the game. Hartford couldn’t get a comfortable lead as the Catamounts stormed back, bringing the score within two points on three different occasions in the second half. With 12 seconds left in the game, Vermont forward Isaiah Powell knocked down a clutch jump shot to keep the game interesting.

The finish was in sight, Traci Carter and Austin Williams put the game on ice when they went a combined 4-4 from the charity stripe in the closing seconds. Hartford held on to win the game 71-65 and punch their ticket to the America East Championship game. This marks the first time in school history where the men’s basketball team will host a championship game!

If you want to catch our team in action, tune in this Saturday to watch the Hawks host #6 UMass Lowell River Hawks at 11 a.m. on ESPN 2. We will be rooting for our fellow Hawks from afar, but the school spirit still holds true.