Dion’s 3-Pointer with 0.3 Left Lifts Men’s Hoops Over UMass Lowell, 78-76

Thursday, January 21

Lowell, Mass.

7 PM

University of New Hampshire

10-8, 3-2AE

University of Massachusetts Lowell

7-12, 3-3AE

New Hampshire

UMass Lowell

Photo by: Elise Austin-Washburn

Dion’s 3-Pointer with 0.3 Left Lifts Men’s Hoops Over UMass Lowell, 78-76

1/21/2016 10:06:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

LOWELL, Mass. – Junior Daniel Dion (Cedar Park, Texas) drilled a 3-pointer with 0.3 seconds left to push the University of New Hampshire men's basketball team to a 78-76 win over the University of Massachusetts Lowell, Thursday night at the Tsongas Center.

With 2.2 seconds on the clock, and a 76-75 deficit, the Wildcats received possession after a play review. Dion rolled off a screen by sophomore Tanner Leissner (Converse, Texas) on the baseline and pulled up on a catch and shoot from five feet outside the 3-point arc on the wing, making the basket for the win.

UNH returns home to host Hartford on Sunday, Jan. 24 (1 p.m.) in a rematch of the America East Championship Quarterfinals a season ago. Limited tickets are available so be sure to visit UNHWildcats.com or call 603-862-4000 for ticket information.

New Hampshire wins its second straight America East game to go up 10-8 overall and 3-2 in conference. UMass Lowell fell to 7-12 overall and 2-3 in league play.

Leissner led all scorers with 27 points (9 of 14 shooting), hitting one 3-pointer and eight free throws. Junior Jacoby Armstrong (Sachse, Texas) recorded his first double-double of the season, second career, with 20 points and 10 rebounds, hitting 8 of 10 free throws.

The River Hawks led 65-51 with 9:24 to play when the Wildcats scored 14 straight points to even it up at 65. Leissner and Armstrong did the work in the paint in the stretch. Leissner tallied eight points and Armstrong scored five.

Both teams traded baskets the next four possessions to remain tied, 70-70, with 3:49 to play. Leissner's two free throws were erased by a Mark Cornelius 3-pointer with 3:07 to go. Smith was fouled going to the basket and made 1 of 2 to tie it back up 73-73 with 2:41 to go.

Leissner drilled a layup and the River Hawks Jahad Thomas made 1 of 2 from the line to give the Wildcats a 75-74 lead with 1:04 to play. On a drive by Isaac White, Tyler Livingston corralled the missed basket and put home the ball and collect a 76-75 lead.

For the River Hawks, Cornelius finished with 18 points and five rebounds while shooting 7 of 9 from the field and 2 of 2 from beyond the arc. Livingston totaled 15 points while Thomas and White scored 13 and 11, respectively.

UMass Lowell shot 69.2 percent in the first half to take a 42-33 lead at the break. New Hampshire outrebounded their opponent by 20 (47-25) for the second straight game. The Wildcats also got to the line 34 times compared to the River Hawks 14. New Hampshire's 18 offensive boards led to an 18-4 lead in second-chance points.

The River Hawks began the game with a 9-3 score before Leissner's two free throws kick started a 6-0 run to tie it up 9-9 with 13:51 to play.

With 7:36 to play in the half and the score tied 22-22, UMass Lowell began to hit the shots to increase their lead to 38-29 with 3:38 to go. Cornelius finished the half with 10 points to lead the River Hawks.

Be sure to follow the men's basketball team on Twitter (@UNHMBB) for up-to-date information on the team.

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