Career-Highs from Smith and Dion Finishes Bryant, 86-73

Saturday, December 10

Smithfield, RI

3 PM

University of New Hampshire

7-3

Bryant University

3-8

New Hampshire

Bryant

Photo by: Joey Walker

12/10/2016 5:37:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Senior guards Jaleen Smith (Freeport, Texas) and Daniel Dion (Cedar Park, Texas) both contributed career-high scoring as the University of New Hampshire men's basketball team dropped Bryant University, 86-73, Saturday afternoon at the Chace Athletic Center.

LOOKING AHEAD
The Wildcats have an eight-day break until they travel to Boston University on Sunday, Dec. 18 (1 PM). New Hampshire returns home on Wednesday, Dec. 21 (7 PM) to take on Daniel Webster College before the Holiday Break. Tickets are available at UNHWildcats.com.

HIGHLIGHTS

Smith finished with a career-high 28 points on 8 of 11 shooting with three 3-pointers and nine free throws.
Dion hit six threes, a career-high, for a personal-best 24 points.
Smith's streak of minutes played was broken at 213 minutes and 16 seconds.
The Wildcats shot 66.7 percent (16 of 24) from the field and 64.3 percent (9 of 14) from beyond the arc in the second half.
Junior Tanner Leissner (Converse, Texas) finished with 12 points and seven rebounds.
New Hampshire went 21 of 22 from the free throw line for 95.5 percent.
The Wildcats are on the best 10-game start since 1994-95.

UPDATED TEAM RECORDS
New Hampshire (7-3)
Bryant (3-8)

HOW IT HAPPENED
'Cats got off to a rocky start with a 13-3 deficit in the first 4:26 of the contest. Two Smith free throws and a couple of Leissner buckets cut the Bulldog lead to 13-9 with 13:36 to play in the first. Five minutes later the duo of Leissner and Smith tied it all up at 19 apiece with 8: 38 to go in the first with driving layups. Dion followed that with a 3-pointer which gave UNH its first and only lead of the first half. To close out the first frame, Bryant went on a 16-5 run.

New Hampshire came out firing in the second half scoring seven straight baskets to take a 46-45 lead with 15:47 to play. Two free throws from Bryant's Adam Grant reclaimed a lead for the Bulldogs, temporarily, before Watkins drilled a 3-pointer to go up two, 49-47, for good. New Hampshire increased its lead to 10 points, 67-57, with 7:50 to go and led by no less than seven the rest of the way.

-POSTGAME NOTES-
UNH STARTERS (SEASON/CAREER STARTS)
Sr. G Jaleen Smith (10/82)
Sr. G Daniel Dion (10/43)
Jr. G Jordan Reed (9/9)
Jr. F Tanner Leissner (10/65)
Jr. F Iba Camara (7/45)

GROUP'S RECORD: 4-2

SERIES INFO
The Wildcats reduce the Bryant lead in the all-time series to 3-2. The Wildcats have handled the Bulldogs in back-to-back seasons.

ATTENDANCE: 593

UNH INDIVIDUAL STATS
Smith: 24 points / 7 rebounds / 4 assists / 8 of 11 shooting
Dion: 24 points / 4 rebounds / 2 assists / 7 of 14 shoot / 6 of 13 3-pointers
Leissner: 12 points / 7 rebounds / 1 assist/ 1 block / 1 steal
Iba Camara (Dakar, Senegal): 4 points / 10 rebounds

BRYANT INDIVIDUAL STATS
Adam Grant: 19 points / 3 rebounds / 3 assists / 6 of 14 shooting
Marcel Pettway: 16 points / 6 rebounds / 2 assists / 6 of 8 shooting
Nisre Zouzoua: 13 points / 5 rebounds / 3 assists / 4 of 13 shooting
Sabastian Townes: 13 points / 2 rebounds / 4 of 6 shooting
Bosko Kostur: 11 points / 2 rebounds / 2 assists / 5 of 10 shooting