Leissner Pushes Men’s Hoops Over Albany, 69-68, Clinches A Home Playoff Game

Thursday, February 11

Durham, N.H.

7 PM

University of New Hampshire

15-9, 8-3AE

University at Albany

20-7, 9-3AE

UAlbany

UNH

Photo by: Breanna Eager

Leissner Pushes Men’s Hoops Over Albany, 69-68, Clinches A Home Playoff Game

2/11/2016 10:23:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

DURHAM, N.H. – Sophomore Tanner Leissner (Converse, Texas) scored 20 points and junior Jaleen Smith (Freeport, Texas) scored 16 points as the University of New Hampshire men's basketball team toppled the University at Albany, 69-68, Thursday night at Lundholm Gym, to clinch a home America East Playoffs game.

UNH improves to 15-9 overall and 8-3 in conference play. The win gives UNH a home playoff game being guaranteed a top-4 finish on the season. UAlbany drops a game after winning five straight. The Great Danes hold a 20-7 record overall and 9-3 in league play.

NEXT UP
New Hampshire plays at Stony Brook University on Sunday, Feb. 14 (2 p.m.) before returning home for UMass Lowell on Wednesday, Feb. 17 (7 p.m.). Limited tickets are available so be sure to visit UNHWildcats.com/tickets or call the box office at 603-862-4000 for ticket information.

HIGHLIGHTS

Leissner drilled a jumper with 14 seconds to play and drew a foul. He nailed the free throw for the go ahead point.
Smith tallied six rebounds and three assists in 40 minutes of action.
Sophomore Iba Camara (Dakar, Senegal) notched 12 points and 14 rebounds for his team-leading sixth double-double.
The Wildcats will host a playoff game for the second consecutive season.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The second half alone had seven lead changes and four ties. Albany held a 38-37 lead at the break and increased it to four points, 41-37, on a Singletary three to open the second frame. Camara drilled a layup and senior Ronnel Jordan (San Antonio, Texas) hit a three to take a 42-41 lead with 17:53 to go.

UNH increased the lead to eight, 58-50, on a 16-9 run capped off by a Leissner jumper. Sophomore Keon Burns (Beaverton, Ore.) played off the bench and scored all five points in the stretch.

Albany fought back to reduce the deficit to two, 58-56, with six straight points from a Mike Rowley basket and four points from Dallas Ennema.

In the final minutes, tied 66-66, Ray Sanders dropped two layups with 25 seconds to play to take a two-point lead before the Wildcats' leading scorer, Leissner, dropped the dagger.

The first half was back and forth with 13 lead changes. Smith scored all 16 points in the first half.

-POSTGAME NOTES-
UNH STARTERS (SEASON/CAREER STARTS)
Jr. G Jaleen Smith (20/64)
So. F Iba Camara (21/29)
So. F Tanner Leissner (20/47)
Sr. G Ronnel Jordan (20/22)
Jr. G Joe Bramanti (18/37)

GROUPS RECORD: 7-1

SERIES INFO

UNH defeated UAlbany after dropping the last four matchups by a combined 10 points.
New Hampshire pulled out a home victory against the Great Danes for the first time since Jan. 23, 2014 in a 60-56 win.

ATTENDANCE: 843

TEAM NOTES

The 'Cats shot 10 of 24 (41.7 percent) from beyond the arc.
UAlbany outscored UNH in the paint 20-16.
The rebounding battle was even at 33 apiece.
The Wildcats dished 13 assists to the Great Danes' 10.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES
Tanner Leissner: 20 points / 4 rebounds / 1 assist / 38 minutes
Jaleen Smith: 16 points / 6 rebounds / 3 assists / 1 steal
Iba Camara: 12 points / 14 rebounds / 2 assist / 3 blocks

Ray Sanders: 23 points / 5 rebounds / 2 steals
Evan Singletary: 10 points / 3 rebounds / 2 assists

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