University of New Hampshire Athletics
University of New Hampshire
4-2
LIU Brooklyn
0-5
Men's Basketball Extends Win Streak to Three With 72-56 Victory Over LIU Brooklyn
12/3/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Sophomore Jaleen Smith (Freeport, Texas) posted a season-high 16 points while adding five rebounds and five assists as the UNH men's basketball team defeated LIU Brooklyn, 72-56, at Steinberg Wellness Center in non-conference action Wednesday night.
The Wildcats improved to 4-2 with their third consecutive victory.
The Blackbirds fall to 0-5 on the year.
New Hampshire brings the all-time series record 4-1 against LIU Brooklyn. The two teams will meet (Dec. 22) in Durham.
Freshman Tanner Leissner (Converse, Texas) tallied 13 points, a team-leading eight rebounds, two assists and one steal.
Junior guard Ronnel Jordan (San Antonio, Texas) put up 12 points in 24 minutes of action chipping in six rebounds and one assist.
LIU Brooklyn's Martin Hermannsson paved the way for the Blackbirds with 12 points, five rebounds and four assists. He was 2-of-5 from beyond the arc and perfect from the line (2-for-2).
Both teams tallied 10 points each in the paint and from the bench.
The Wildcats won the opening tipoff and jumped out 6-2 thanks to Dion's back-to-back buckets beyond the arc.
Halfway through the first half, New Hampshire claimed a 21-16 lead.
At halftime, UNH was up by 12 over LIU Brooklyn, 40-28. Leissner posted nine and Jordan had eight points. Leissner also had three rebounds and one assist shooting 3-for-7 from the floor and 1-for-3 from beyond the arc.
New Hampshire was perfect from the line (3-for-3) while shooting 46.9% from the floor in twenty minutes of play.
UNH took control of the second stanza and never looked back. With 10:43 showing on the clock, the 'Cats claimed a 15 point advantage, 53-38.
The Blackbirds did what they could to get back into it as they went on a 7-0 run cutting the lead 53-48.
UNH responded with two back-to-back three pointers by Leissner and senior Matt Miller (Arnold, Md.) to go up 12, 59-47, with 7:28 left to play.
With the clock winding down the Wildcats took their largest lead of the night, 16 points (34 seconds left).
New Hampshire shot 90.9% from the free-throw line (10-for-11) while LIU Brooklyn was 81.8% (18-for-22). UNH had a better field goal and three-point percentage compared to their opponent shooting 41.7 and 46.2 percent respectively. The 'Cats outrebounded the Blackbirds 39-37.
New Hampshire is back in action Saturday, Dec. 6 (7 p.m.) against Wheelock College at Lundholm Gymnasium.
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.
