University of New Hampshire Athletics
Thursday, November 19
Worcester, Mass.
7 PM
University of New Hampshire
at
Holy Cross
Photo by: Elise Austin-Washburn
Men’s Basketball Primed for Holy Cross (Nov. 19; 7 p.m)
11/18/2015 12:36:00 PM | Men's Basketball
DURHAM, N.H. – The University of New Hampshire men's basketball team aims for a second win at the College of the Holy Cross on Thursday, Nov. 19 (7 p.m.) at the Hart Center.
Cat Facts
The Wildcats enter the matchup following an 85-66 loss to No. 19 University of Connecticut (Nov. 17) at Gampel Pavilion. Leissner recorded his second straight 20-point game with 20 points (7 of 11), four rebounds an assist and a block. Freshman Pat McNamara (Arlington Heights, Ill.) hit four threes in the second half to total 14 points (2-for-2 from the charity stripe) and three assists. Smith tallied nine points, six rebounds, four assists and a steal.
New Hampshire stuck around in the first half, down 39-29 at halftime, before UConn shot 59.2 percent from the field in the second frame to pull away. UNH limited turnovers and held an 11-5-turnover advantage, which led to a 15-10 points-off-turnovers lead.
The Wildcats currently have four scorers averaging double figures led by Leissner with 20.5 points a game. McNamara ranks second with 12.5 per game and leads the team with seven threes. Sophomore Iba Camara (Dakar, Senegal) scores 11.5 per game followed by Smith at 10.0 points per game. Camara leads the team with 12.0 rebounds per game and Smith paces UNH with 7.0 assists per game.
Scouting the Crusaders
The Crusaders will play their home opener against the Wildcats. Most recently, Holy Cross fell 71-55 to Brown University. Senior guard Cullen Hamilton currently leads the team in scoring at 14.5 points per game, while hitting 50.0 percent of his field goal attempts and 45.5 percent of his three-pointers. Junior guard Robert Champion is also off to a strong start this year, averaging 14.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals per contest. Freshman forward Karl Charles has added 9.0 points and 3.0 rebounds per game, while junior center Matt Husek is chipping in 8.0 points and 8.0 boards per contest.
The Crusaders are in their first year under head coach Bill Carmody, and are coming off a 2014-2015 season in which they went 14-16 overall and tied for sixth in the Patriot League with an 8-10 mark in conference games.
All-Time Series
Holy Cross holds a 22-10 overall record against UNH, recently defeating the Wildcats in Lundholm Gymnasium on Nov. 30, 2013, 63-52. New Hampshire last won at Holy Cross on Feb. 22, 1994 in a 96-84 decision. Currently, the 'Cats are on a 3-game losing streak against the Crusaders.
Scoring Jump
Leissner and Smith averaged 10 + points a game a year ago, improving the Wildcat offense from last place in the conference in 2013-14 (57.8 ppg) to first in the conference in 2014-15 (67.1 ppg). The +9.3 scoring increase is first among the most improved Division I teams from a season ago, where the 'Cats finished tied for sixth for most improved team with +13 wins.
Casual Camara
Forward Camara scored career-highs in points and rebounds to open the 2015-16 season. His 15-point and 20-rebound stat line earned him America East Player of the Week honors on Nov. 16. At UConn, the sophomore scored eight points, grabbed four rebounds, dished out two assists and totaled two steals. Last season, the Senegal native averaged 10.6 minutes per game with 3.1 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. He made eight starts, including all three postseason games last year where his numbers jumped to 20.7 minutes, 6.0 points and 8.3 rebounds per game.
Locked In Leissner
Leissner added a fifth career double-double after the win in the season opener and matched his career-high scoring output with 21 points. At No. 19 UConn, Leissner finished with his second consecutive 20-point effort with 20 points and four rebounds. A season ago, the 2015 America East Rookie of the Year averaged 12.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. The Texas native shot 44.8 percent from the field (117 of 161) and 35.1 percent from beyond the arc (26 of 74). He led the team with 19 blocks and 32.1 minutes per game.
Zeroed In
Smith nearly notched a triple-double (two rebounds shy) in the season opener last Friday. The stat line was his second-career double-double and the first where he used the assists column. He continues to do a little bit of everything, averaging 10 points, seven rebounds and seven assists through two games. The 2015 All-Championship Team member started in all 32 games for UNH last year and ranked second in both scoring (10.7 ppg) and rebounding (5.2 rpg). He paced the team in assists with 2.8 per game. At the guard position, he ranked third in blocks with 11 and was the only guard with more than two.
Mac and Threes
Freshman McNamara is shooting 50.0 percent from beyond the arc this season, recently going 4-for-6 on 3-pointers at UConn. The Illinois native scored 11 points on 4 of 10 shooting, including three treys, in the season opener against Lyndon State College. Last season, the Wildcats topped the league in 3-point field-goal percentage with a 37.4 percent mark. UNH looks to continue that trend, shooting 36.7 percent so far through two games.
Wildcat Captains
Smith, junior forward Jacoby Armstrong (Sachse, Texas) and junior guard Joe Bramanti (Andover, Mass.) brings the leadership to the Wildcats this season. Bramanti returns to captaincy after last year's leadership produced a balanced team. Smith and Armstrong join Bramanti in their junior seasons, all with UNH, with a combined 3,000+ minutes of game time.
Strong Play
Armstrong made his season debut at UConn where he totaled seven points, five rebounds, a steal and an assist off the bench. The captain ranked third in scoring in 2014-15, averaging 9.9 points per game. His 4.1 rebounds a game ranked third for the Wildcats and he was an efficient scorer with a 51.5 percent rate from the field, ranking sixth in the conference. Starting 26 of 32 games played, a reliable Armstrong could push the 'Cats to a deep playoff run.
Herrion Wins Again
Herrion has compiled a New Hampshire overall record of 118-182 throughout his 11 years. With two more victories, Herrion will overtake William Cowell (1916-1928) and rank second for most wins as a UNH men's basketball coach. Gerry Friel (1969-89) totaled 185 wins throughout his 20-season career, ranking first for the program.
Look Ma, I'm On TV
The Wildcats are set to play on five ESPN3 games, two at home, and three television games in 2015-16. Additionally, New Hampshire will play on SportsNet New York (SNY) when they take on the University of Connecticut (Nov. 17; 7 p.m.), WBIN Classics and Fox College Sports on Dec. 19 (1 p.m.) against Dartmouth College in Lundholm and lastly Fox College Sports on Jan. 16 (1 p.m.) against Stony Brook University in Durham. The ESPN3 contests will be at Southern Methodist University (Dec. 5; 1:30 p.m.), at Boston College (Dec. 30; 2 p.m.), at UMass Lowell (Jan. 21; 7 p.m.), against the University of Vermont (Jan. 27; 7 p.m.) and against the University of Albany (Feb. 11; 7 p.m.).
New 'Cats in Town
New Hampshire welcomes four newcomers to the roster this season. Guard Andrew Dotson (Arlington, Texas) was the 2014-15 District Offensive MVP in his area during his senior year, averaging 20.3 points per game. McNamara averaged 18 points per game in his senior season and was a regional champion, and All-Conference and All-Area selection. Sophomore guard Jordan Reed (Lucas, Texas) is a transfer from Rice University and played in 12 games but will have to sit out this season. The final freshman is forward David Watkins (Dorchester, Mass.) who was a top-30 player in New England last year. He received the most valuable player award in both junior and senior season at Brimmer and May School.
Graduation Success Rate
The Wildcats received a perfect GSR of 100 percent in the NCAA report released on Nov. 4. Men's basketball was one of four New Hampshire programs that had the unblemished rating. The team was tied for first in the America East conference against other basketball teams in the conference. All 20 athletic programs as a whole recorded a GSR of 90 percent.
The Lone Star State
UNH has seven individuals from the state of Texas. Smith, Dotson, Armstrong, guard Daniel Dion (Cedar Park), Reed, Leissner and guard Ronnel Jordan (San Antonio) all chose the chilly New England weather over the hot lone star state.
2014-15 America East Award Winners
Joining Leissner, Armstrong was an America East All-Conference Third Team member with Matt Miller who now joins the coaching staff. Bramanti was an All-Defensive Team selection and Smith was named to the All-Championship Team for his play during the tournament.
AMERICA EAST WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS
Iba Camara – Player of the Week (Nov. 16)
Miller Moves On
After Miller was denied a sixth season as a Wildcat, the team decided to add him to the coaching staff to help build the team for a title run. Miller was a key cog to the success last season, leading the America East in 3-point field goal percentage (48.1 percent) and ranking second in threes made (63). He finished his UNH career ranked 10th in threes made in a season and fifth in 3-point field goal percentage in a season. Additionally, Miller's shooting finishes second in the UNH record books for career 3-point field goal percentage.
Wildcats on the Air
The Wildcat Sports Radio Network will broadcast a total of 15 UNH men's basketball regular-season games during the 2015-16 season and will air the games for the America East Championships. Jim Jeannotte, 23-time New Hampshire Sportscaster of the Year handles the play-by-play. Mike Murphy, a five-time winner of the New Hampshire Sportscaster of the Year award, does the color commentating.
The Wildcat Sports Radio Network affiliates include (times/dates subject to change):
WPKX-AM - 930 - Rochester
WGIR-AM - 610 - Manchester
Live Stream - Stretch Internet - UNHWildcats.com
Here is the complete radio schedule:
Nov. 13 vs. Lyndon St. (7:30 p.m.)
Nov. 19 at Holy Cross (7 p.m.)
Nov. 28 vs. American (1 p.m.)
Nov. 30 vs. Bryant (7 p.m.)
Dec. 19 vs. Dartmouth (1 p.m.)
Dec. 21 at Boston U. (7 p.m.)
Dec. 30 at Boston College (2 p.m.)
Jan. 9 vs. Binghamton (1 p.m.)
Jan. 16 vs. Stony Brook (1 p.m.)
Jan. 24 vs. Hartford (1 p.m.)
Jan. 27 vs. Vermont (7 p.m.)
Feb. 8 vs. Maine (7 p.m.)
Feb. vs. 11 UAlbany (7 p.m.)
Feb. 17 vs. UMass Lowell (7 p.m.)
Feb. 27 vs. UMBC (12 p.m.)
Preseason Predictions
New Hampshire was selected to finish fourth in the conference this season with 47 points. Leissner was named to the Preseason All-Conference Team as well, the only non-senior selected to the team.
Men's Hoops Media Center
To check out career numbers, year-by-year results, alumni roster and much more, head over to the men's basketball page at UNHWildcats.com and look under the additional links tab to find the media center link.
Looking Ahead
New Hampshire continues its three-game road stretch with a matchup at the College of the Holy Cross on Thursday, Nov. 19 (7 p.m.) at the Hart Center.
New Hampshire closes out its three-game road stretch at Brown University on Tuesday, Nov. 24 (7 p.m.) at the Pizzitola Sports Center. The Wildcats return home Saturday, Nov. 28 (1 p.m.) against America University at Lundholm Gymnasium. Limited tickets are available so be sure to call the box office at 603-862-4000.
For the most up-to-date information on the men's basketball program, visit the new UNHWildcats.com. Text UNH to 90561 to sign up for Sports alerts. Message & Data Rates May Apply. 1 message/text. Consent to receive a text message is not a condition of purchasing goods or services. Text HELP to 90561 for info. STOP to cancel. T&Cs & Privacy Policy is available HERE.
Cat Facts
- Sophomore Tanner Leissner (Converse, Texas) averages 20.5 points per game, coming off a season where he scored 12.8 per contest.
- Four Wildcats average double-digit scoring numbers this season as three starters and one bench player round out the four. Last season, Leissner and junior Jaleen Smith (Freeport, Texas) were the lone double-digit scorers.
- New Hampshire has hit 18 3-pointers through two games, after averaging 7.2 per game last season.
- Head coach Bill Herrion is two wins shy of claiming No. 2 on the program's all-time winningest coach list.
- UNH looks to claim a 2-1 record through three games for the first time since the 2013-14 season where they began the year 2-0 before losing 71-63 to New Jersey Institute of Technology.
The Wildcats enter the matchup following an 85-66 loss to No. 19 University of Connecticut (Nov. 17) at Gampel Pavilion. Leissner recorded his second straight 20-point game with 20 points (7 of 11), four rebounds an assist and a block. Freshman Pat McNamara (Arlington Heights, Ill.) hit four threes in the second half to total 14 points (2-for-2 from the charity stripe) and three assists. Smith tallied nine points, six rebounds, four assists and a steal.
New Hampshire stuck around in the first half, down 39-29 at halftime, before UConn shot 59.2 percent from the field in the second frame to pull away. UNH limited turnovers and held an 11-5-turnover advantage, which led to a 15-10 points-off-turnovers lead.
The Wildcats currently have four scorers averaging double figures led by Leissner with 20.5 points a game. McNamara ranks second with 12.5 per game and leads the team with seven threes. Sophomore Iba Camara (Dakar, Senegal) scores 11.5 per game followed by Smith at 10.0 points per game. Camara leads the team with 12.0 rebounds per game and Smith paces UNH with 7.0 assists per game.
Scouting the Crusaders
The Crusaders will play their home opener against the Wildcats. Most recently, Holy Cross fell 71-55 to Brown University. Senior guard Cullen Hamilton currently leads the team in scoring at 14.5 points per game, while hitting 50.0 percent of his field goal attempts and 45.5 percent of his three-pointers. Junior guard Robert Champion is also off to a strong start this year, averaging 14.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals per contest. Freshman forward Karl Charles has added 9.0 points and 3.0 rebounds per game, while junior center Matt Husek is chipping in 8.0 points and 8.0 boards per contest.
The Crusaders are in their first year under head coach Bill Carmody, and are coming off a 2014-2015 season in which they went 14-16 overall and tied for sixth in the Patriot League with an 8-10 mark in conference games.
All-Time Series
Holy Cross holds a 22-10 overall record against UNH, recently defeating the Wildcats in Lundholm Gymnasium on Nov. 30, 2013, 63-52. New Hampshire last won at Holy Cross on Feb. 22, 1994 in a 96-84 decision. Currently, the 'Cats are on a 3-game losing streak against the Crusaders.
Scoring Jump
Leissner and Smith averaged 10 + points a game a year ago, improving the Wildcat offense from last place in the conference in 2013-14 (57.8 ppg) to first in the conference in 2014-15 (67.1 ppg). The +9.3 scoring increase is first among the most improved Division I teams from a season ago, where the 'Cats finished tied for sixth for most improved team with +13 wins.
Casual Camara
Forward Camara scored career-highs in points and rebounds to open the 2015-16 season. His 15-point and 20-rebound stat line earned him America East Player of the Week honors on Nov. 16. At UConn, the sophomore scored eight points, grabbed four rebounds, dished out two assists and totaled two steals. Last season, the Senegal native averaged 10.6 minutes per game with 3.1 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. He made eight starts, including all three postseason games last year where his numbers jumped to 20.7 minutes, 6.0 points and 8.3 rebounds per game.
Locked In Leissner
Leissner added a fifth career double-double after the win in the season opener and matched his career-high scoring output with 21 points. At No. 19 UConn, Leissner finished with his second consecutive 20-point effort with 20 points and four rebounds. A season ago, the 2015 America East Rookie of the Year averaged 12.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. The Texas native shot 44.8 percent from the field (117 of 161) and 35.1 percent from beyond the arc (26 of 74). He led the team with 19 blocks and 32.1 minutes per game.
Zeroed In
Smith nearly notched a triple-double (two rebounds shy) in the season opener last Friday. The stat line was his second-career double-double and the first where he used the assists column. He continues to do a little bit of everything, averaging 10 points, seven rebounds and seven assists through two games. The 2015 All-Championship Team member started in all 32 games for UNH last year and ranked second in both scoring (10.7 ppg) and rebounding (5.2 rpg). He paced the team in assists with 2.8 per game. At the guard position, he ranked third in blocks with 11 and was the only guard with more than two.
Mac and Threes
Freshman McNamara is shooting 50.0 percent from beyond the arc this season, recently going 4-for-6 on 3-pointers at UConn. The Illinois native scored 11 points on 4 of 10 shooting, including three treys, in the season opener against Lyndon State College. Last season, the Wildcats topped the league in 3-point field-goal percentage with a 37.4 percent mark. UNH looks to continue that trend, shooting 36.7 percent so far through two games.
Wildcat Captains
Smith, junior forward Jacoby Armstrong (Sachse, Texas) and junior guard Joe Bramanti (Andover, Mass.) brings the leadership to the Wildcats this season. Bramanti returns to captaincy after last year's leadership produced a balanced team. Smith and Armstrong join Bramanti in their junior seasons, all with UNH, with a combined 3,000+ minutes of game time.
Strong Play
Armstrong made his season debut at UConn where he totaled seven points, five rebounds, a steal and an assist off the bench. The captain ranked third in scoring in 2014-15, averaging 9.9 points per game. His 4.1 rebounds a game ranked third for the Wildcats and he was an efficient scorer with a 51.5 percent rate from the field, ranking sixth in the conference. Starting 26 of 32 games played, a reliable Armstrong could push the 'Cats to a deep playoff run.
Herrion Wins Again
Herrion has compiled a New Hampshire overall record of 118-182 throughout his 11 years. With two more victories, Herrion will overtake William Cowell (1916-1928) and rank second for most wins as a UNH men's basketball coach. Gerry Friel (1969-89) totaled 185 wins throughout his 20-season career, ranking first for the program.
Look Ma, I'm On TV
The Wildcats are set to play on five ESPN3 games, two at home, and three television games in 2015-16. Additionally, New Hampshire will play on SportsNet New York (SNY) when they take on the University of Connecticut (Nov. 17; 7 p.m.), WBIN Classics and Fox College Sports on Dec. 19 (1 p.m.) against Dartmouth College in Lundholm and lastly Fox College Sports on Jan. 16 (1 p.m.) against Stony Brook University in Durham. The ESPN3 contests will be at Southern Methodist University (Dec. 5; 1:30 p.m.), at Boston College (Dec. 30; 2 p.m.), at UMass Lowell (Jan. 21; 7 p.m.), against the University of Vermont (Jan. 27; 7 p.m.) and against the University of Albany (Feb. 11; 7 p.m.).
New 'Cats in Town
New Hampshire welcomes four newcomers to the roster this season. Guard Andrew Dotson (Arlington, Texas) was the 2014-15 District Offensive MVP in his area during his senior year, averaging 20.3 points per game. McNamara averaged 18 points per game in his senior season and was a regional champion, and All-Conference and All-Area selection. Sophomore guard Jordan Reed (Lucas, Texas) is a transfer from Rice University and played in 12 games but will have to sit out this season. The final freshman is forward David Watkins (Dorchester, Mass.) who was a top-30 player in New England last year. He received the most valuable player award in both junior and senior season at Brimmer and May School.
Graduation Success Rate
The Wildcats received a perfect GSR of 100 percent in the NCAA report released on Nov. 4. Men's basketball was one of four New Hampshire programs that had the unblemished rating. The team was tied for first in the America East conference against other basketball teams in the conference. All 20 athletic programs as a whole recorded a GSR of 90 percent.
The Lone Star State
UNH has seven individuals from the state of Texas. Smith, Dotson, Armstrong, guard Daniel Dion (Cedar Park), Reed, Leissner and guard Ronnel Jordan (San Antonio) all chose the chilly New England weather over the hot lone star state.
2014-15 America East Award Winners
Joining Leissner, Armstrong was an America East All-Conference Third Team member with Matt Miller who now joins the coaching staff. Bramanti was an All-Defensive Team selection and Smith was named to the All-Championship Team for his play during the tournament.
AMERICA EAST WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS
Iba Camara – Player of the Week (Nov. 16)
Miller Moves On
After Miller was denied a sixth season as a Wildcat, the team decided to add him to the coaching staff to help build the team for a title run. Miller was a key cog to the success last season, leading the America East in 3-point field goal percentage (48.1 percent) and ranking second in threes made (63). He finished his UNH career ranked 10th in threes made in a season and fifth in 3-point field goal percentage in a season. Additionally, Miller's shooting finishes second in the UNH record books for career 3-point field goal percentage.
Wildcats on the Air
The Wildcat Sports Radio Network will broadcast a total of 15 UNH men's basketball regular-season games during the 2015-16 season and will air the games for the America East Championships. Jim Jeannotte, 23-time New Hampshire Sportscaster of the Year handles the play-by-play. Mike Murphy, a five-time winner of the New Hampshire Sportscaster of the Year award, does the color commentating.
The Wildcat Sports Radio Network affiliates include (times/dates subject to change):
WPKX-AM - 930 - Rochester
WGIR-AM - 610 - Manchester
Live Stream - Stretch Internet - UNHWildcats.com
Here is the complete radio schedule:
Nov. 13 vs. Lyndon St. (7:30 p.m.)
Nov. 19 at Holy Cross (7 p.m.)
Nov. 28 vs. American (1 p.m.)
Nov. 30 vs. Bryant (7 p.m.)
Dec. 19 vs. Dartmouth (1 p.m.)
Dec. 21 at Boston U. (7 p.m.)
Dec. 30 at Boston College (2 p.m.)
Jan. 9 vs. Binghamton (1 p.m.)
Jan. 16 vs. Stony Brook (1 p.m.)
Jan. 24 vs. Hartford (1 p.m.)
Jan. 27 vs. Vermont (7 p.m.)
Feb. 8 vs. Maine (7 p.m.)
Feb. vs. 11 UAlbany (7 p.m.)
Feb. 17 vs. UMass Lowell (7 p.m.)
Feb. 27 vs. UMBC (12 p.m.)
Preseason Predictions
New Hampshire was selected to finish fourth in the conference this season with 47 points. Leissner was named to the Preseason All-Conference Team as well, the only non-senior selected to the team.
Men's Hoops Media Center
To check out career numbers, year-by-year results, alumni roster and much more, head over to the men's basketball page at UNHWildcats.com and look under the additional links tab to find the media center link.
Looking Ahead
New Hampshire continues its three-game road stretch with a matchup at the College of the Holy Cross on Thursday, Nov. 19 (7 p.m.) at the Hart Center.
New Hampshire closes out its three-game road stretch at Brown University on Tuesday, Nov. 24 (7 p.m.) at the Pizzitola Sports Center. The Wildcats return home Saturday, Nov. 28 (1 p.m.) against America University at Lundholm Gymnasium. Limited tickets are available so be sure to call the box office at 603-862-4000.
For the most up-to-date information on the men's basketball program, visit the new UNHWildcats.com. Text UNH to 90561 to sign up for Sports alerts. Message & Data Rates May Apply. 1 message/text. Consent to receive a text message is not a condition of purchasing goods or services. Text HELP to 90561 for info. STOP to cancel. T&Cs & Privacy Policy is available HERE.
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