Smith’s 22 Points Leads Men's Hoops to Program-Best 20th Win, Toppling Fairfield, 77-62, in the CIT Opener

Wednesday, March 16

Fairfield, CT

7 PM

University of New Hampshire

20-12

Fairfield University

19-14

New Hampshire

Fairfield University

Photo by: Greg Greene

Smith’s 22 Points Leads Men's Hoops to Program-Best 20th Win, Toppling Fairfield, 77-62, in the CIT Opener

3/16/2016 10:06:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Junior Jaleen Smith (Freeport, Texas) hit 19 of 22 points in the second half to lead the University of New Hampshire men's basketball team to a 77-62 win over Fairfield University for the program's first-ever 20^th win in a season in the opening round of the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament, Wednesday night at Alumni Hall.

New Hampshire (20-12) earned its first win over Fairfield, its first win in the postseason and its 20^th win this season, a new program record. The program began in 1903.

NEXT UP
With the victory, the Wildcats move onto the second round of the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament. Opponent, location and start time will be determined shortly after the first round games have been completed.

HIGHLIGHTS

Smith drilled 13 of 14 free throws in the second half for a new career-high.
Junior Daniel Dion (Cedar Park, Texas) matched a career-high in threes with five, en route to 15 points.
Sophomore Tanner Leissner (Converse, Texas) scored 15 points (7 of 13) and grabbed eight rebounds.
Sophomore Iba Camara (Dakar, Senegal) recorded his 14^th 10+-rebound game with 11 boards.
Junior Jacoby Armstrong (Sachse, Texas) scored 10 points and was one rebound shy of his third double-double of the season.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Fairfield held a 41-24 deficit at the break before making a run in the second half for a chance. The Stags reduced the Wildcat lead to nine, 47-38, with 11:27 to play on a Tyler Nelson 3-pointer, three of his 16 second-half points. UNH pushed its lead back to 14 on a Smith lay-in with 8:30 remaining but Nelson and Marcus Gilbert scored four and three points, respectively. That was the closest Fairfield came to evening the score the remainder of the game.

New Hampshire came out shooting in the first half, connecting on 15 of 29 shots including 8 of 14 from beyond the arc. Dion hit 4 of 5 attempts in the first half.

The Wildcats jumped out to a 6-0 lead on two Leissner buckets and a Jordan jumper. Smith drilled a 3-pointer with 15:00 to play in the first to increase the UNH lead to 10, 16-6. There was no scoring for 2:26 before Armstrong connected on a baseline jumper for two more points.

One of Dion's four threes fell with five minutes to play to take the largest Wildcat lead in the opening half, 38-17. The scoring ended for New Hampshire after a Jordan 3-pointer as Jerry Johnson drilled a three and Coleman Johnson finished in the paint to head into the break with a 41-24 deficit.

-POSTGAME NOTES-
UNH STARTERS (SEASON/CAREER STARTS)
Jr. G Jaleen Smith (28/72)
So. F Iba Camara (29/37)
So. F Tanner Leissner (28/55)
Sr. G Ronnel Jordan (28/30)
Jr. G Joe Bramanti (26/45)

GROUPS RECORD: 12-4

SERIES INFO

New Hampshire earned its first win against the Stags, sitting 1-9 all-time.

ATTENDANCE: 1145

TEAM NOTES

New Hampshire shot 60 percent in the first half and 45.5 percent in the game.
The Wildcats outrebounded the Stags 46-33.
UNH dished 14 assists on 26 baskets.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES
Jaleen Smith: 22 points / 6 rebounds / 13-14 FTs
Tanner Leissner: 15 points / 8 rebounds / 7-13 FGs
Jaleen Smith: 15 points / 2 rebounds / 5-7 3's
Jacoby Armstrong: 10 points / 9 rebounds / 5-9 FGs

Tyler Nelson: 20 points / 4 rebounds / 3 assists
Jerry Johnson: 16 points / 4 rebounds / 4-4 FTs

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