Leissner Scores 26 as Men’s Hoops Nearly Stuns Stony Brook, 59-58

Sunday, February 14

Stony Brook, N.Y.

2 PM

University of New Hampshire

15-10, 8-4AE

Stony Brook University

22-4, 13-0AE

New Hampshire

Stony Brook

Photo by: Greg Greene

Leissner Scores 26 as Men’s Hoops Nearly Stuns Stony Brook, 59-58

2/14/2016 4:45:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

STONY BROOK, N.Y. – Sophomore Tanner Leissner (Converse, Texas) scored 26 points to lead all scorers as the University of New Hampshire men's basketball team nearly stunned Stony Brook University, falling 59-58, Sunday afternoon at IFCU Arena.

New Hampshire's four-game winning streak was snapped, falling to 15-10 overall and 8-4 in America East play. Stony Brook extends its nation-leading winning streak to 18 games and sits at 22-4 overall and 13-0 in league play.

NEXT UP
New Hampshire returns home to host 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

Junior Jaleen Smith (Freeport, Texas) took the final shot for UNH but was blocked by SBU's Jameel Warney, who finished with eight blocks.
Senior Ronnel Jordan (San Antonio, Texas) recorded 12 points, seven rebounds, two assists and a steal.
New Hampshire went 10-12 from the free-throw line.
The Wildcats outscored SBU 20-9 in second-chance points.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Stony Brook led by nine points with 5:41 to play in the contest. New Hampshire scored eight straight points on 3-pointers from Leissner and Jordan and a basket by sophomore Iba Camara (Dakar, Senegal) to reduce the Seawolf lead. Warney scored a jumper for a three-point lead, 59-56, with 3:27 to go. Leissner was fouled in the paint and buried both freebies to reduce the deficit to one, 59-58 with 2:43 to play. No team scored in the final minutes.

Stony Brook upped its pressure in the second half leading by more than five points for most of the final frame.

The first half was all defense as the Wildcats trailed 25-23 at the break. The total ties for the fourth-lowest mark for a half this season.

It took two minutes until the first basket on a Camara lay in inside the paint. The Wildcats held a 14-9 lead, their largest of the game, on a Leissner jumper. Leissner finished the half with 12 points on 4 of 11 shooting and also grabbed eight rebounds.

Stony Brook scored the next 10 points to take a 19-14 lead. McGrew scored six points in the stretch.

The 'Cats looked to go into the break with a four-point deficit until Leissner scored a tip-in with one second to play to reduce the Seawolves' lead to 25-23 at halftime.

-POSTGAME NOTES-
UNH STARTERS (SEASON/CAREER STARTS)
Jr. G Jaleen Smith (21/65)
So. F Iba Camara (22/30)
So. F Tanner Leissner (21/48)
Sr. G Ronnel Jordan (21/23)
Jr. G Joe Bramanti (19/38)

GROUPS RECORD: 7-2

SERIES INFO

The Wildcats have dropped two straight to Stony Brook after splitting the season series last year.
New Hampshire last won on the road against Stony Brook on Feb. 8, 2014 in a 73-69 victory.

ATTENDANCE: 4,109

TEAM NOTES

UNH had won four straight road games going into this matchup.
The Wildcats shot 21 of 63 (33.3 percent) from the field.
Stony Brook recorded nine blocks to UNH's one.
UNH held a 6-1 steal advantage.
Four Wildcats record 7+ rebounds.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES
Tanner Leissner: 26 points / 9 rebounds / 2 steals / 40 minutes
Ronnel Jordan: 12 points / 7 rebounds / 2 steals / 1 assist

Jameel Warney: 16 points / 8 rebounds / 8 blocks / 1 assist
Carson Puriefoy: 16 points / 6 rebounds / 3 assists / 1 block / 1 steal
Rayshaun McGrew: 14 points / 7 rebounds / 1 assist

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