Bangor, Maine -- Maks Klanjscek led all scorers with a game-high 23 points, just two shy of matching his career-high, but it would not be enough as the Black Bears dropped a 78-66 decision to Hartford on Monday evening at the Cross Insurance Center.

The Black Bears, who led by as many as 11 in the contest, trailed by just one at the break but were outscored 41-30 in the second half. In a contest which featured nine lead changes and three ties, Hartford was able to pull away in the second half as the Hawks went 14-for-20 (70.0) over the game's final 20 minutes.

Klanjscek finished 9-of-16 from the field with three triples for his 23 points while Vukasin Masic added 18 points on 4-of-7 from beyond the arc. Stephane Ingo rounded out Maine's double-digit scorers with 11 points, all coming in the second half.

Maine came out of the gates on fire, racing out to a 13-2 edge with back-to-back triples from Masic helping stage the early surge.

After Hartford cut the lead to five, Klanjscek stopped the Hawks' run with a triple to regain an eight point advantage for the Black Bears.

Hartford responded with an 8-0 run to tie it before taking its first lead of the game on a triple with 10:13 left in the opening half.

The teams traded the lead six more times in the final minutes of the first. Maine's lead grew back to six on buckets from Byron Ireland and Ja'Shonte Wright-Mcleish.

Hartford would close the half on a 9-2 run to take a 37-36 lead into the half.

Ingo would score the first bucket of the second half to put Maine back on top by one but it would be the last time the Black Bears would lead.

Hartford would take a six point lead before Maine responded with a 5-0 run, cutting the lead to one. However, the Hawks would answer, this time with a 17-7 run to push their lead out to double-digits, 70-59, with just over three minutes remaining.

Maine was unable to get closer than seven points the rest of the way as Hartford captured the victory, 78-66.

The Black Bears return to action on Wednesday evening when they host UMass Lowell at 7 p.m. live on NESN.

-UMaine-