Boston U. 97, Hartford 66

2/28/2008 9:51 PM

BOSTON (AP) -Freshman John Holland exploded for the most points by an America East player this season, scoring 38 points and adding 11 rebounds to power sizzling Boston University to a 97-66 conference rout of Hartford on Thursday night.

The win moved the Terriers (13-15, 9-6), winners of eight of their last nine games, into a three-way tie with Hartford (15-15, 9-6) and Albany for second place in the conference with one game remaining for all three. BU is at Albany Sunday while Hartford hosts Maryland-Baltimore-County, which has already wrapped up first place.

BU has won five straight home games and has beaten Hartford six straight times in Boston.

Holland, the four-time defending America East Rookie of the Week, scored his team's first 10 points en route to breaking the league season mark of 35 set by teammate Corey Lowe at Yale on Dec. 11. Stony Brook's Ricky Lucas had the season mark for a conference game with 33 points, at Hartford, Jan. 24. It was his third double-double of the season, two of them against Hartford.

Lowe scored 21 points and had five assists, Carlos Strong had 16 points and Scott Brittain added 14 for the Terriers. Matt Wolff had only four points, but added a career-high 11 rebounds seven assists, which matches his career best.

BU, which led by as many as 37 points, was 13-for-32 from 3-point range and had 22 assists on 32 baskets.

Joe Zeglinski scored 14 points, Jaret Von Rosenberg and Michael Turner 10 for the Hawks, who have lost two in a row after a five-game winning streak.