Leissner's Double-Double Leads 'Cats Past UMass Lowell, 74-62

Monday, January 15

Lowell, MA

2:30 pm

University of New Hampshire

7-11, 3-1AE

University of Massachusetts Lowell

6-11, 0-4AE

New Hampshire

UMass Lowell

Photo by: Steve McLaughlin

Leissner's Double-Double Leads 'Cats Past UMass Lowell, 74-62

1/15/2018 6:04:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Ogwuche Is Perfect 3-for-3 on 3-Pointers, Matches Career High of 15 Points

LOWELL, Mass – Tanner Leissner (Converse, Texas) recorded a game-high 26 points and 12 rebounds to lead the University of New Hampshire men's basketball team to Monday afternoon's 74-62 victory against the University of Massachusetts Lowell at Tsongas Center.

Leissner scored 20+ points for the ninth time this season and also tallied his seventh double-double of the year. He also had three assists

John Ogwuche (Makurdi, Nigeria) matched his career high of 15 points and tied his personal best with three 3-pointers. Darryl Stewart (Atlanta, Ga.) and Jacoby Armstrong (Dallas, Texas) also scored in double digits with 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Iba Camara (Dakar, Senegal) matched his season high of 17 rebounds to help the Wildcats record a 44-28 edge on the glass.

UMass Lowell was led by Jahad Thomas (22p, 11r).

It is the third consecutive win for UNH, which never trailed in the game to improve to 7-11 overall and 3-1 in America East, as well as 8-1 against UMass Lowell, including 5-0 at Tsongas Center. UML is now 6-11, 0-4 AE.

LOOKING AHEAD

New Hampshire returns to action Jan. 18 (7 p.m.) at home against the University of Vermont. The Wildcats then play host to Stony Brook University for Youth Day on Jan. 21 (1 p.m.).
Tickets for all home games are available online at www.unhwildcats.com or by calling (603) 862-4000.

GAME RECAP

Stewart hit a jumper from the right elbow to open the game scoring at 18:30 and ignite an 8-0 game-opening run in which both Leissner and Stewart hit 3-pointers.
UML never pulled even the rest of the game.
Leissner's baby hook in the lane was followed by back-to-back Ogwuche 3-pointers – one from the left wing and another on the right baseline – to give the 'Cats a 19-4 lead at 13:23.
Camara and Jacoby Armstrong (Dallas, Texas) scored on the blocks to push the advantage to 19 points, 23-4, at 12:03.
Matt Harris' jumper at 11:43 ended New Hampshire's run of 12 consecutive points.
Leissner completed a three-point play at 11:13 to give UNH its largest lead of the half, 26-6.
UMass Lowell went on a 9-0 run to trim the deficit to 26-15 at 8:05, and that prompted UNH to call a timeout.
The Wildcats responded with a 10-2 run, including a Josh Hopkins (Greensboro, N.C.) 3-pointer, to push the lead back to 19 points, 36-17, at 4:33.
UML closed the half on a 9-5 spurt to close within 41-26 at haltime.
The River Hawks scored the first four points of the second half as part of a 7-2 run that trimmed the deficit to 10 points, 43-33, at 17:03.
Stewart quelled the rally with four consecutive free throws, then Leissner converted a three-point play and Armstrong scored on a putback to give the 'Cats a 51-33 lead at 14:44.
Another UNH 7-0 run – Hopkins' 3-pointer, Ogwuche layup and Stewart pull-up jumper at the foul line – gave New Hampshire its largest lead of the game, 58-35, at 12:25.
The home team answered with seven consecutive points but could not get closer than 16 points until the final 90 seconds of the game.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

This is the fifth consecutive game UNH held the opponent below its scoring average. UMass Lowell entered the game averaging 77.1 points per game on a .457 field goal percentage, but was limited by the Wildcats to 62 points on 38.8% shooting, including 2 of 15 on 3-pointers.
UNH built its 15-point halftime lead by shooting 51.9% from the floor, including 6 of 9 from 3-point range, while holding the River Hawks to a .320 field goal percentage (1-10 on 3's).
New Hampshire had a 17-7 edge on the offensive glass to produce a 21-10 margin in second-chance points.
This was the third time this year four 'Cats scored in double digits in a game.
This was UNH's first road win of the year (1-6).

UNH NOTEBOOK

Armstrong finished with 10 points, six rebounds and three assists. He has 967 career points.
Ogwuche scored 13 of his career-high-tying 15 points in the first half, when he made 4 of 7 FGs, including all three 3-point attempts.
Leissner recorded 16 points and eight rebounds in the second half.
Leissner advanced to No. 4 on UNH's career leaderboard for field goals attempted. The 16 FG attempts increased his total to 1,291; Leissner supplanted Robin Dixon (1979-83), who had 1,284.
Leissner increased his program record for free throws made and attempted to 481 and 620, respectively.
This was career win No. 401 for UNH head coach Bill Herrion, who reached the 400 milestone Feb. 10.