Springfield College Beats Hartford 88-64 with Strong Second Half

Springfield College Beats Hartford 88-64 with Strong Second Half

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The Hartford men’s basketball team fell to 0-3 on the season Thursday night after losing to Springfield College by a score of 88-64 in Springfield, Mass.

According to University of Hartford Athletics, the Hawks struggled to maintain their early momentum, specifically failing to contain a decisive second-half surge from the Pride. While the game remained competitive through the first two quarters, a 21-point deficit in the second half ultimately decided the outcome on the road.

Hartford actually showed signs of life early in the contest. Senior Kaosi Chijioke, from Atlanta, Ga., helped secure an initial 9-8 lead with two baskets.

The Hawks later found themselves in a strong position when senior Joshua Petion, a Brooklyn, N.Y., native, sparked a 7-0 run to take the lead. Graduate student Drew Stack, from Madison, N.J., contributed to a 33-31 advantage with just 3:55 remaining in the first half.

Springfield College Men's Basketball vs Hartford — Springfield College

The momentum shifted late in the opening period when Springfield finished with a 9-2 run, heading into the locker rooms with a 40-37 lead.

The second half saw Springfield pull away quickly. The Pride opened the period with an 11-4 run that pushed their lead to 51-41. Although Chijioke and senior Kyle Winters, from Corte Madera, Calif., managed to trim the gap to 52-45, the Hawks could not stop the bleeding.

Hartford vs Springfield College Mens Basketball 2026 — USA Athletic Basketball

Springfield responded with a dominant 26-4 run over an eight-minute stretch. This surge effectively placed the game out of reach. Even with late scoring efforts from Petion and sophomore Harry Geng, from Nantucket, Mass., the deficit proved too large to overcome.

The statistical breakdown shows Hartford struggles in the interior. Springfield dominated the paint, outscoring the Hawks 46-28 in that area. The Pride also controlled the glass, out-rebounding Hartford 43-29.

Joshua Petion provided the most efficient scoring for the Hawks, leading the team with 14 points. He shot a perfect 5-for-5 from the field and 4-for-4 from the free-throw line while adding three rebounds and a steal. Harry Geng contributed nine points, including 4-for-9 shooting from the field, alongside two steals.

The scoring distribution for the Hawks was as follows:

Player Points Key Stats
Joshua Petion 14 5-5 FG, 4-4 FT
Harry Geng 9 4-9 FG, 2 steals
Kaosi Chijioke 8 –
Kyle Winters 8 –
Drew Stack 8 –

For Springfield, Xoren Livingston led all scorers with 20 points, shooting 8-for-13 from the field and 4-for-5 from behind the three-point arc. Zachary Campbell added 18 points and four rebounds, while Hunter Matteson recorded a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds.

The Hawks must now pivot quickly to prepare for their home opener. They are scheduled to host Saint John’s University on Saturday, Nov. 14, at 3:00 PM.

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