Three Double-Doubles Propels Victory Over Winthrop, 65-60

Sunday, November 27

Rock Hill, SC

2 PM

University of New Hampshire

4-2

Winthrop University

3-2

New Hampshire

WINTHROP

Photo by: All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks

11/27/2016 5:50:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

ROCK HILL, S.C. – Junior forward Tanner Leissner (Converse, Texas), senior guard Jaleen Smith (Freeport, Texas) and sophomore forward David Watkins (Dorchester, Mass.) each recorded double-doubles in the Wildcats' victory over Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina on Sunday.

HIGHLIGHTS

Leissner recorded 22 points and 14 rebounds in the contest. He also played all 40 minutes of the game.
Smith scored 20 points to go along with 11 rebounds and 6 assists. He also logged 40 minutes of playing time.
Watkins scored 11 points and 11 rebounds, with 9 of his 11 points coming from beyond the arc.
Senior guard Daniel Dion (Cedar Park, Texas) had 12 points on four threes in the game.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Wildcats started off with Leissner and Smith scoring the first 21 points of the game, keeping them close with Winthrop throughout the entire first half. It wasn't until the 2:49 mark that another Wildcat got into the scoring column, when David Watkins sunk two free throws to bring UNH within one point of the Eagles. The Wildcats were cold from deep in the first half, shooting just 2-16 from three, but out-rebounded Winthrop 31 to 21.

To start the second half, the Wildcats came out red-hot hitting their first four 3-point attempts. Dion buried back-to-back threes to tie the game at 32 points a piece, followed by a Smith three to give the Wildcats a 35-32 lead going into a Winthrop timeout at the 16 minute mark. The game went back and forth after that, with no team taking more than a six-point lead for the rest of the game.

After Winthrop's Xavier Cooks hit a layup to give the Eagles a six-point lead at the 8-minute mark, the Wildcats needed a quick response to turn the momentum. Right on queue, Dion and Watkins buried a three each to tie the game at 51. The lead changed four more times in three minutes, with Cooks hitting two free throws to give the Eagles a 60-58 lead with only 3 minutes remaining.

The Wildcats answered with another Dion 3-pointer, giving them a 1-point lead and they never looked back from there. They came up with two more defensive stops leading to a Leissner put back and a Smith jumper to solidify their 65-60 victory on the road in their final Preseason National Invitational Tournament game. UNH's ten second-half threes and sixteen rebound differential was the difference-maker in the contest.

-POSTGAME NOTES-
UNH STARTERS (SEASON/CAREER STARTS)
Sr. G Jaleen Smith (6/79)
Sr. G Daniel Dion (6/39)
Jr. G Jordan Reed (6/6)
Jr. F Tanner Leissner (6/62)
Jr. F Iba Camara (3/40)

GROUP'S RECORD: 2-1

SERIES INFO

New Hampshire takes the all-time series at 1-0 in the first ever content between both teams.

ATTENDANCE: 922

TEAM NOTES

UNH out-rebounded Winthrop 51-35, the largest rebound total this season.
The Wildcats recorded 20 points off turnovers and five fast-break points.
In the second half, UNH went 6 of 11 from beyond the arc.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES
Tanner Leissner: 22 points / 14 rebounds
Jaleen Smith: 20 points / 11 rebounds / 8 of 17 shooting
Daniel Dion: 12 points / 4 threes
David Watkins: 11 points / 11 rebounds (1^st career doule-double)

Xavier Cooks: 30 points / 8 rebounds / 12 of 17 shooting

For the most up-to-date information on men's basketball, visit UNHWildcats.com.