Camara Records 20 Points, 11 Rebounds in 74-70 Loss to American

Tuesday, November 21

Durham, NH

7 PM

University of New Hampshire

1-3

American University

1-3

AMERICAN

New Hampshire

Photo by: Joey Walker

Camara Records 20 Points, 11 Rebounds in 74-70 Loss to American

11/21/2017 10:40:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Video Highlights

DURHAM, N.H. – Iba Camara (Dakar, Senegal) recorded 20 points and 11 rebounds, but the University of New Hampshire men's basketball team was edged 74-40 by American University in Tuesday night's non-conference game at Lundholm Gym.

It was the second double-double of the season and 18^th of the career for Camara, who scored 20 points in a game for the third time as a Wildcat. Tanner Leissner (Converse, Texas) finished with 18 points and eight rebounds.

AU was led by Sa'eed Nelson (26p, 8r) and Larry Motuzis (20p, 7r).

Both teams now have a 1-3 record.

LOOKING AHEAD

New Hampshire returns to action Nov. 24-25 for neutral-site games of the PK80 presented by State Farm against Furman University and Utah State University. The tourney games, both of which start at 1 p.m., are at Nashville Municipal Auditorium.
The Wildcats' next home game is Nov. 29 (7 p.m.) against Boston University; there will be a schedule magnet giveaway and Dollar Dogs at the concession stand. Tickets are available online at www.unhwildcats.com or by calling (603) 862-4000.

THE DIFFERENCE

New Hampshire overcame a second-half 19-point deficit, 56-37 at 15:30, to take a 61-58 lead on a 3-pointer by Keon Burns (Beaverton, Ore.) at 6:57.
American University trailed 70-67 with 2:51 on the clock but outscored the hosts 7-0 the rest of the way to rally for the victory. The Wildcats went 0-for-6, including five 3-point attempts, with two turnovers in that span.

GAME RECAP

With the score tied 10-10 at the first media timeout of the game (at 15:52), AU went on an 8-2 run the next four minutes to build a six-point lead.
On the strength of perimeter shooting – the Eagles made 8 of 16 3-pointers in the first half – the visitors built a double-digit lead, 26-15 at 8:57, and led by as many as 18 points, 45-27 at 2:50, before taking a 46-32 lead into halftime.
Nelson (15 points, three 3's), Marvin Bragg (11p) and Motuzis (10, two 3's) all scored in double digits in the first half.
After falling behind by 19 points, the Wildcats rallied behind four points from both Camara and Leissner to trim the deficit to single figures, 56-48, at 10:38.
Nelson hit a pair of free throws to quickly reestablish a double-digit margin, but Burns drilled his first 3-pointer of the game and Leissner scored seven consecutive points to level the score at 58.
Burns struck again from downtown to give the Wildcats a 61-58 lead, their first since 10-8 at 16:28 of the first half.
Jacoby Armstrong (Dallas, Texas; nine points) drained a pair of foul shots to increase the lead to four points, 66-62, at 4:12. And then a pair of Leissner free throws gave the 'Cats another four-point cushion, 68-64 with 3:32 remaining.
Motuzis hit a 3-pointer to quickly lift the Eagles within one point and he hit another one on their next possession to tie the game, 70-70, at 2:35.
Motuzis was fouled on a breakaway with 1:23 on the clock and hit one free throw to give AU a 71-70 lead.
Nelson made two from the foul line to extend the advantage to 73-70 with 21 seconds remaining.
Josh Hopkins (Greensboro, N.C.) and Jordan Reed (Lucas, Texas) missed 3-pointers and the second rebound was knocked out by the Eagles to give the Wildcats a third chance.
UNH called time out before inbounding the ball with 9.9 seconds remaining. Reed caught the pass on the top-right side and swung the ball across to Leissner, whose 3-point attempt was blocked by Jesse Little and the ball fell into the arms of AU's Nelson.
Nelson missed the front end of the double bonus but made the second free throw to secure the win by extending the lead to 74-70 with 3.0 seconds left.

UNH NOTEBOOK

New Hampshire recorded season highs in both free throws made (29) and attempted (40). The Wildcats had attempted a total of 41 foul shots the first three games.
Jordan, the reigning America East Rookie of the Week, matched his career high of five assists established in the season opener vs. Wheelock College.
In addition to being Camara's 18^th career double-double and third 20-point game, it was his 30^th effort with double-digit rebounds.
With the 11 rebounds, Camara increased his career total to 722 and he climbed from No. 7 to No. 5 on the program's all-time leaderboard.
UNH changed to a 2-3 zone defense in the second half and that adjustment limited the Eagles to 3 of 14 from beyond the arc in that period.
The road team has won each of the last three UNH vs. AU matchups. The Wildcats prevailed last year in Washington, D.C. and the Eagles also triumphed in Lundholm Gym in November 2015.