Leissner Helps Erase 19-point Deficit, Men’s Hoops Defeats Hartford 74-63

Saturday, February 20

West Hartford, Conn.

7 PM

University of New Hampshire

17-10, 10-4AE

University of Hartford

8-21, 3-11AE

New Hampshire

Hartford

Photo by: Elise Austin-Washburn

Leissner Helps Erase 19-point Deficit, Men’s Hoops Defeats Hartford 74-63

2/20/2016 9:38:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Sophomore Tanner Leissner (Converse, Texas) notched 13 points and 15 rebounds, tying a career-high, for his second straight double-double as the University of New Hampshire men's basketball team defeated the University of Hartford, 74-63, Saturday night at the Chase Arena.

UNH now holds a 17-10 overall record and is now 10-4 in America East play. Hartford fell to 8-21 overall and 3-11 in league play.

NEXT UP
New Hampshire plays at the University of Vermont on Wednesday, Feb. 24 (7 p.m.) before heading home to wrap up the regular season with the University of Maryland, Baltimore County on Saturday, Feb. 27 (noon) for Senior and Alumni Day. Limited tickets are available so be sure to visit UNHWildcats.com/tickets or call the box office at 603-862-4000.

The Wildcats have clinched a home playoff game for the America East Playoffs Quarterfinals on Wednesday, March 2. Tickets are on sale now at the Whittemore Center Box Office or online HERE or on the phone at 603-862-4000. Opponent and start time will be announced soon.

HIGHLIGHTS

Leissner started his 50^th game in his young career.
New Hampshire trailed 29-10 with 11:18 to play in the first half before rallying back.
Junior Daniel Dion (Cedar Park, Texas) recorded 12 points, his first double-digit scoring game since Jan. 12 at Maine.
The 'Cats outscored the Hawks 42-23 in the final half.
The UNH bench outscored Hartford 32-5.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Hartford jumped out to an 11-5 lead with 16:57 to go in the first half. The Hawks' Taylor Dyson, who was recognized on senior day, drilled two threes in the run. Hartford then stretched the lead to 29-10, with 11:18 to play, mostly on 3-pointers as they hit seven in the first half. Hartford held its largest lead at 11:18 (19 points).

Freshman Pat McNamara (Arlington Heights, Ill.) entered the game and drilled his first three 3-pointer attempts to jumpstart the UNH offense into a 14-4 run. The Wildcats matched Hartford's 3-point total with seven in the first half as well. Jordan went 2-for-4 in the opening frame. Sophomore Keon Burns (Beaverton, Ore.) drilled a 3-pointer with 30 seconds to play to end the first-half scoring.

The second half began with three offensive rebounds by UNH and then a junior Jaleen Smith (Freeport, Texas) fade-away jumper which dropped for his first basket of the game. The score kick started an 8-0 run which evened the score, 40-40, stamped by a junior Joe Bramanti (Andover, Mass.) fast break finish.

Hartford scored its first second-half basket at the 14:00 mark on a Blagojevic 3-pointer. Blagojevic retook a Hartford lead, 45-43, at 13:23 on a layup in the paint. UNH retook the lead on an junior Jacoby Armstrong (Sachse, Texas) dunk on a dish by Leissner and UNH never trailed for the remainder of the game.

-POSTGAME NOTES-
UNH STARTERS (SEASON/CAREER STARTS)
Jr. G Jaleen Smith (23/67)
So. F Iba Camara (24/32)
So. F Tanner Leissner (23/50)
Sr. G Ronnel Jordan (23/25)
Jr. G Joe Bramanti (21/40)

GROUPS RECORD: 9-2

SERIES INFO

The Wildcats have now won four straight games against the Hawks.

ATTENDANCE: 2640

TEAM NOTES

Every player who saw the court scored a basket for UNH.
The Wildcats hit 23 free throws to Hartford's eight.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES
Tanner Leissner: 13 points / 15 rebounds / 2 assists / 1 steal
Daniel Dion: 12 points / 4 rebounds / 4 assists / 1 block / 1 steal
Jaleen Smith: 10 points / 4 rebounds / 3 assists / 6-6 FTs

Jalen Ross: 22 points / 5 rebounds / 1 assist
Pancake Thomas: 17 points / 5 rebounds / 3 assists
Taylor Dyson: 9 points / 2-4 3's

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