El-Amin, Martin score 16 each, Stony Brook holds off Hartford 54-44 for best start in 19 years

Stony Brook holds off Hartford 54-44

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. — Muhammad El-Amin and Chris Martin scored 16 points apiece and Stony Brook held off Hartford 54-44 on Wednesday night to give the Seawolves their best start since the 1990-91 season.

Stony Brook (16-7, 8-2), which has won five games in a row and nine of its last 11, leads the America East Conference with its best 10-game record in the league and has won five straight conference games for the first time since 2002-03.

The Seawolves held the Hawks to 34.6 percent shooting (18-for-52), including 22.2 percent (6-for-27) in the first half, for their lowest scoring total of the year.

Hartford (6-16, 4-5), which trailed 26-15 at halftime, cut the deficit to six with 3:35 left, but Stony Brook hit 9 of 10 free throws in the last 2:25.

Morgan Sabia led the Hawks with 12 points while Joe Zeglinski, who averaged 16.7 points, had seven points on 2-for-15 shooting.