University of New Hampshire Athletics
University of New Hampshire
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Western Michigan University
8-4, 0-0MAC
Men's Hoops Falls to Western Michigan On The Road, 70-56; Leissner Drops 12 Points and Six Rebounds
12/30/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - Freshman Tanner Leissner (Converse, Texas) scores 12 points, but the University of New Hampshire men's basketball team couldn't hang on in the second half against Western Michigan University, Tuesday night at University Arena falling 70-56.
UNH drops to even on the season, 6-6, while Western Michigan improves to 8-4.
Leissner was the sole double-digit scorer (3-for-9) for the 'Cats while also corralling six rebounds. Matt Miller (Arnold, Md.) and Jaleen Smith (Freeport, Texas) scored eight apiece.
The Broncos had four different double-digit scorers with Connor Tava scoring a game-high 15 points (4 of 13) and six rebounds. David Brown shot 5-for-8 with 14 points.
UNH scored at a .404 clip on the night and .350 on treys. The bench continued its productive play, outscoring the opposition 19-13. The Broncos had a tough time burying 3-pointers in the game (3-for-13) while nailing only one (1 of 8) in the second half. From the field WMU shot 41.1 percent.
Western Michigan went to the line 26 times compared to New Hampshire's 18.
It was back and forth action in the first half with five lead changes and two ties.
UNH jumped to a 4-2 lead to start the game when Smith nailed a trey from the top of the arc, just 48 seconds into the contest. The bucket was the largest lead UNH squandered throughout the night.
The Bronco's David Brown completed a 25-13 run when he hit a 3-pointer to pull ahead by 12, 27-15, as it was the largest lead WMU held in the first half with 7:51 showing on the clock.
Two consecutive Leissner buckets, a layup and 3-pointer, pulled the 'Cats to within seven, 39-32, to finish the half. UNH shot 46.2 percent (6 of 13) from beyond the arc in the opening frame.
Joe Bramanti (Andover, Mass.) got a tip-in to fall to narrow the deficit to five, 43-38, just 3:40 into the second stanza.
With UNH trailing 57-47, Tava sparked a Broncos 9-0 run on a layup at 9:08. Drake Lamont capped the run with a bucket to extend the lead 64-47 with under six minutes to play.
Following a Tommy McDonnell (Durham, N.H.) layup in the lane, Western Michigan's Brown dropped a jumper to pull ahead by 18 (66-48), the largest lead in the game, with 4:53 remaining.
With the buzzer going off, the Wildcats concluded the 2014 half of the season.
Up next, to open the new year, UNH travels to Long Island to take on Stony Brook University on Saturday, Jan. 3 (2 p.m.) following New Hampshire's women's team as they go up against the Seawolves at 12 p.m.
To purchase tickets for upcoming games visit UNHWildcats.com/tickets or call (603) 862-4000. For the latest news and information on the UNH men's basketball program, check out UNHWildcats.com
