Smith’s 15 Points Gives Men’s Hoops a 58-43 Win Over Binghamton

Saturday, January 9

Durham, N.H.

1 PM

University of New Hampshire

8-6, 1-0AE

Binghamton University

3-12, 0-2AE

Binghamton

UNH

Photo by: Greg Greene

Smith’s 15 Points Gives Men’s Hoops a 58-43 Win Over Binghamton

1/9/2016 4:12:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

DURHAM, N.H. – Junior guard Jaleen Smith (Freeport, Texas) scored 15 points, 10 in the final half, to lead the University of New Hampshire men's basketball team to a 58-43 victory over Binghamton University to open America East play, Saturday afternoon at Lundholm Gymnasium.

The Wildcats improved their overall record to 8-6. Binghamton has dropped both conferences games thus far and sits at 3-12 overall.

Smith finished shooting 4 of 8 from the field and 1-for-3 on 3-point attempts. The nations leading free-throw shooter went 6 of 6 from the line as well. Classmate Jacoby Armstrong (Sachse, Texas) tallied 14 points (6 of 12) and five rebounds in 31 minutes. Juniors Daniel Dion (Cedar Park, Texas) and Joe Bramanti (Andover, Mass.) recorded seven points each.

For the Bearcats, sophomore Willie Rodriguez poured in 20 points (8 of 12) and 11 rebounds to pace all athletes in both categories. Freshman Thomas Bruce record 10 points and seven rebounds while burying all five shot attempts. Classmate Everson Davis scored eight points.

UNH held a 5-14 advantage in turnovers, which led to a 11-3 points-off-turnovers lead. The Wildcats also shot 82.4 percent from the charity stripe while the Bearcats went 6 of 12.

New Hampshire held Binghamton to 31.8 percent shooting in the first half including 1-for-9 from beyond the arc. Smith hit a 3-pointer in the Wildcats' first possession but the trey was neutralized by Davis' three. Davis scored again to take a two-point lead, the largest lead for BU, before an Armstrong jumper and a Bramanti 3-pointer from the wing gave UNH a 9-5 lead with 15:02 to play. The 'Cats never led by more than five until the half's final basket, an Armstrong layup, which pushed UNH to a 23-16 first-half lead.

To begin the final half, Leissner scored the first five Wildcat points following a Rodriguez layup to lead 28-18 with 18:41 to play. After trading baskets, Binghamton rattled off a 14-3 run to take a one point lead, 34-33, with 10:30 to play. Four Bearcat players scored led by Rodriguez with five points during the stretch.

The Wildcats went on a run of their own, 15-3, to push the lead back to 10 points, 48-38 with 2:14 to play. Smith and Armstrong contributed six points apiece and sophomore Keon Burns (Beaverton, Ore.) hit a corner three during the run.

UNH clinched the win with 12 straight made free throws in the final four minutes.

New Hampshire travels to defending America East champion University at Albany on Tuesday, Jan. 12 (7 p.m.) with hopes of remaining undefeated in conference play. UNH returns home on Saturday, Jan. 16 (1 p.m.) for Stony Brook University on Fox College Sports.

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