Leissner, Hopkins Receive America East Weekly Awards
1/2/2018 12:50:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BOSTON – Tanner Leissner (Converse, Texas) and Josh Hopkins (Greensboro, N.C.) of the Univeristy of New Hampshire men's basketball team were named Player of the Week and Rookie of the Week, respectively, by America East on Tuesday.
The duo helped lead UNH to an 83-66 victory against intrastate rival Dartmouth College on Dec. 30.
Leissner scored a season-high 32 points and pulled down eight rebounds – both game highs – against the Big Green; it marked the fifth time this season he led the Wildcats in both points and rebounds. The senior forward and captain made 9 of 16 field goals, including a perfect 4-for-4 on 3-pointers, and was 10 of 14 from the foul line. Leissner also had three assists in 37 minutes played.
Leissner broke UNH's record for career free throws attempted, which is now 583; the previous record of 576 had stood since 1955. He already entered the year as the record holder for career free throws made and extended that mark to 451.
Leissner carried the 'Cats to a 15-point halftime lead (45-30) with 19 first-half points on the strength of 5-for-9 shooting from the floor and 7 of 8 at the foul line. He continued the hot hand early in the second half with back-to-back 3-pointers that pushed the advantage to 20 points with less than three minutes off the clock.
The 32 points is the second-highest career total for Leissner, who now has five career 30-point games.
Hopkins recorded 11 points and three rebounds in 22 minutes off the bench. The freshman guard shot 50% from the floor, including 3-for-6 from 3-point range, to account for all 11 points.
Hopkins did a majority of his damage in the first half, when he made 3 of 6 field goals, including a pair of 3-pointers, and pulled down two boards in 12 minutes to help the Wildcats build a halftime lead that would not be relinquished.
This is the first America East Player of the Week award of the 2017-18 season for Leissner, who received this honor three times last year and once as a sophomore.
It is the first Rookie of the Week accolade for Hopkins. Classmate Elijah Jordan (Orlando, Fla.) has also received the honor once this season.
The duo helped lead UNH to an 83-66 victory against intrastate rival Dartmouth College on Dec. 30.
Leissner scored a season-high 32 points and pulled down eight rebounds – both game highs – against the Big Green; it marked the fifth time this season he led the Wildcats in both points and rebounds. The senior forward and captain made 9 of 16 field goals, including a perfect 4-for-4 on 3-pointers, and was 10 of 14 from the foul line. Leissner also had three assists in 37 minutes played.
Leissner broke UNH's record for career free throws attempted, which is now 583; the previous record of 576 had stood since 1955. He already entered the year as the record holder for career free throws made and extended that mark to 451.
Leissner carried the 'Cats to a 15-point halftime lead (45-30) with 19 first-half points on the strength of 5-for-9 shooting from the floor and 7 of 8 at the foul line. He continued the hot hand early in the second half with back-to-back 3-pointers that pushed the advantage to 20 points with less than three minutes off the clock.
The 32 points is the second-highest career total for Leissner, who now has five career 30-point games.
Hopkins recorded 11 points and three rebounds in 22 minutes off the bench. The freshman guard shot 50% from the floor, including 3-for-6 from 3-point range, to account for all 11 points.
Hopkins did a majority of his damage in the first half, when he made 3 of 6 field goals, including a pair of 3-pointers, and pulled down two boards in 12 minutes to help the Wildcats build a halftime lead that would not be relinquished.
This is the first America East Player of the Week award of the 2017-18 season for Leissner, who received this honor three times last year and once as a sophomore.
It is the first Rookie of the Week accolade for Hopkins. Classmate Elijah Jordan (Orlando, Fla.) has also received the honor once this season.
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