University of New Hampshire Athletics
University of New Hampshire
5-3, 0-0AE
Colgate University
3-7, 0-0PL
Men's Hoops Squeezes Past Colgate, 63-57, to Stay Undefeated at Home
12/14/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
DURHAM, N.H. - Freshman forward Tanner Leissner (Converse, Texas) scored a career-high 21 points and eight rebounds to propel the University of New Hampshire men's basketball team to a 63-57 win over Colgate University inside Lundholm Gymnasium on Sunday afternoon.
UNH improves its record to 6-3 on the season, which is the best start since the 1994-95 campaign, when it posted the best finish in program history. New Hampshire stays undefeated at home (4-0). Colgate falls to 3-8 overall.
The Wildcats shot .444 from the field (20 of 45) including .533 from the 3-point line (8 of 25). UNH held Colgate to .316 from behind-the-arc and .478 shooting (22-of-45). Colgate finished the afternoon 7 of 9 (.778) from the line to UNH's 15 of 21 (.714). There was a total of six lead changes and the game was tied nine times in the contest.
Senior guard Matt Miller (Arnold, Md.) finished his afternoon shooting 4 of 9 from the field, recording a season-high 11 points and four rebounds, and was 3 of 6 on buckets beyond the arc.
Sophomore guard Jaleen Smith (Freeport, Texas) had a solid performance with 11 points and two rebounds. He made all six of his free-throw attempts.
UNH was outscored 24-14 in the paint but capitalized on second-chance opportunities with 11 points to Colgate's two. The 'Cats bench outscored the Raiders, 17-12, in that category.
Colgate's Damon Sherman-Newsome and Austin Tillotson recorded 15 points apiece to pave the way for the Raiders.
Colgate jumped out to a 14-2 lead with 14:47 remaining in the first frame, sparked by Damon Sherman-Newsome's five points off a jumper as well as a 3-pointer.
Junior guard Joe Bramanti (Andover, Mass.) broke the run with a 3-pointer of his own at 14:08. He finished the afternoon with five points.
New Hampshire narrowed the gap to 20-17 with a Leissner 3-pointer at 7:15. Following a Colgate 3-pointer, Miller nailed a 3-pointer of his own to remain within three points with 5:32 remaining in the half to cap off a 18-9 run.
After trailing for more than 12 minutes, the Wildcats tied it, 25-25, on another 3-pointer from Miller that finished a 23-11 Wildcat run.
In the second stanza, the Raiders pulled ahead, 36-31, on a Sherman-Newsome layup at 17:20 for its largest lead in the half.
Junior guard Ronnel Jordan (San Antonio, Texas) and Miller made consecutive layups to close the gap 36-35, and two Leissner free-throws pushed the 'Cats ahead 37-36 with 14:41 left in the second half.
The second half continued to be a back-and-forth battle.
The 'Cats were down 51-55 with 3:20 remaining, off a Sherman-Newsome layup. UNH then stormed on a 10-0 run to push ahead 61-55 by the 21 second mark. Smith hit four free throws during the run. Bramanti nailed a layup to push the 'Cats ahead for good at 2:09. Leissner and freshman Iba Camara (Dakar,Senegal) each recorded a basket throughout the push.
Up next, the Wildcats travel to Sacred Heart University, Dec. 20 (5 p.m.). UNH returns home Dec. 22 to host LIU Brooklyn; the Wildcats defeated the Blackbirds, 72-56, in Brooklyn on Dec. 3.
To purchase tickets for the upcoming season, visit UNHWildcats.com/tickets or call (603) 862-4000, ext. 5.
For the latest news and information on the UNH men's basketball program, check out UNHWildcats.com.
