Dion’s Career-Best Seven Threes Erased at Vermont, 82-74

Thursday, February 9

Burlington, Vt.

9 PM

University of New Hampshire

14-11, 5-6AE

Vermont

22-5, 12-0AE

New Hampshire

Vermont

Photo by: Audrey Powell

2/9/2017 11:43:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

DURHAM, N.H. – Senior Daniel Dion (Cedar Park, Texas) scored a career-high 25 points and drilled a personal-best seven threes as the University of New Hampshire men's basketball team (14-11, 5-6 AE) fell to the America East-leading University of Vermont (22-5, 12-0 AE) Thursday night at Patrick Gym on ESPNU.

NEXT HOME GAME
The Wildcats return home on Wednesday, Feb. 15 (7 PM) to take on the University of Maine in Lundholm Gym. It's Light up Lundholm night with everyone in attendance receiving foam light sticks for the intros! Tickets are available HERE.

HIGHLIGHTS

Dion hit four first-half threes and three in the second for seven, just one shy of matching a single-game record for the program (8 by Tommy MacDonald vs. Brown, 1/12/93)
Junior Tanner Leissner (Converse, Texas) finished with 14 points and seven rebounds in 38 minutes.
Classmate Iba Camara (Dakar, Senegal) scored eight points and grabbed 13 rebounds for 609 in his career, putting him 11^th on the total rebounds list in program history.
Freshman John Ogwuche (Makurdi, Nigeria) scored nine points in his third career start, including two 3-pointers.

HOW IT HAPPENED
It was quick-paced first half with both teams shooting over 40 percent from the field. Neither team led by more than three points until the 11:36 mark when Leissner drilled two free throws to take a 17-13 lead over UVM. The junior followed that up with a jumper to stretch the lead to six points. With 6:54 to play, and a 26-22 Wildcat lead, New Hampshire scored seven straight to go up 33-22 with 5:29 remaining. Sophomore David Watkins (Dorchester, Mass.) hit a three, junior Jordan Reed (Lucas, Texas) nailed two free throws and Camara finished inside. Vermont responded big with a 12-0 run to take a 34-33 lead with 2:03 left in the first. Anthony Lamb was huge in the run, scoring five of his 12 first-half points. Dion reclaimed a UNH lead with a pull up jumper on the left side before drilling an extra possession 3-pointer from and offensive rebounds by freshman Luke Rosinski (Derry, N.H.).

Vermont rattled off a 12-4 run to start the second half, Lamb continued his scoring with six of the points. Vermont controlled most of the final frame until the final minutes. The Catamounts led 71-60 with 5:11 to play when UNH went on a 12-4 run to inch within three points. Smith, Ogwuche and Dion each hit threes during the stretch. Vermont's Trae Bell-Haynes hit a falling layup to put the lead back to five with 1:22 and held on for their 22^nd win this season and an unblemished league record.

-POSTGAME NOTES-
UNH STARTERS (SEASON/CAREER STARTS)
Sr. G Jaleen Smith (25/97)
Sr. G Daniel Dion (25/58)
Fr. G John Ogwuche (3/3)
Jr. F Tanner Leissner (25/79)
Jr. F Iba Camara (20/58)

GROUP'S RECORD: 1-1

SERIES INFO
Vermont pushed its series lead to 98-49. UNH hasn't won in Patrick Gym since January of 2000.

ATTENDANCE: 1,775

INDIVIDUAL NOTES
Daniel Dion: 25 points / 9 of 4 shooting / 7 of 12 on 3s
Tanner Leissner: 14 points / 7 rebounds / 5 of 15 shooting
Jaleen Smith 11 points / 6 rebounds / 5 of 11 shootings / 4 assists / 40 minutes
John Ogwuche: 9 points / 2 rebounds / 3 of 6 shooting

Anthony Lamb: 26 points / 13 rebounds / 9 of 6 shooting
Trae Bell-Haynes: 23 points / 9 of 15 shooting / 6 assists
Kurt Steidl: 11 points / 6 rebounds
Payton Henson: 10 points / 5 of 10 shooting