Leissner's Double-Double Not Enough in 71-67 Loss at UMBC

Wednesday, January 3

Baltimore, MD

7 PM

University of New Hampshire

4-11, 0-1

University of Maryland Baltimore County

10-6, 1-0

New Hampshire

UMBC Retrievers

1/3/2018 10:03:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

BALTIMORE – Tanner Leissner (Converse, Texas) recorded a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds, but the University of New Hampshire men's basketball team was edged by UMBC, 71-67, at the RAC Arena on Wednesday night. It was the America East conference opener for both teams.

It was the fifth double-double of the season – and 18^th career -- for Leissner, who was named America East Player of the Week on Tuesday. Jordan Reed (Lucas, Texas) scored 15 points on the strength of 5 of 7 shooting from 3-point range. Elijah Jordan (Orlando, Fla.) finished with 13 points, five assists and four rebounds.

UMBC was led by Jarius Lyles, who recorded 27 points, eight rebounds, five assists and four steals. Arkel Lamar made all four of his 3-pointers and tallied a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds.

UNH is now 4-11 overall and 0-1 in America East. UMBC remained unbeaten in seven home games to improve to 10-6, 1-0.

LOOKING AHEAD

New Hampshire returns to action Jan. 6 (1 p.m.) at home against the University at Albany. Tickets are available online at www.unhwildcats.com or by calling (603) 862-4000.

GAME RECAP

We netted an early 6-0 lead on 3-pointers by Leissner and Jordan Reed (Lucas, Texas), but UMBC scored the next nine points to surge in front, 9-6.
Elijah Jordan (Orlando, Fla.) connected from the top of the key on a 3-pointer to tie the score at 9, and he hit another long-range shot, this time from the left wing, to knot the score at 12 heading into the media timeout at 14:12.
With UNH trailing 23-20, Leissner completed a three-point play on an offensive rebound, then Josh Hopkins (Greensboro, N.C.), the reigning America East Rookie of the Week, and Jacoby Armstrong (Dallas, Texas) drilled 3-pointers to give the 'Cats a 29-23 lead at 6:30.
Iba Camara (Dakar, Senegal) scored on the left blocks to extend the advantage to eight points at 5:21.
Leissner's basket in the low post matched the largest lead of the half, eight points, at 36-28 with 4:39 on the clock.
Arkel Lamar's 3-pointer trimmed the margin to five points at 2:54, and neither team scored the remainder of the half to send New Hampshire into the locker room with a 36-31 lead.
After a defensive stop at the start of the second half, Leissner completed his second three-point play of the game to reestablish an eight-point cushion, 39-31.
Reed's fifth 3-pointer of the night once again created an eight-point lead, 44-36, at 17:30.
Trailing 48-40 at 12:34, UMBC inched within four points at 11:07.
Reed exited the game at 9:11 with UNH leading 50-47, and the 'Cats were outscored 24-17 the rest of the way.
The Retrievers forged the fifth tie of the game – and the first since 20-20 – at 52-52 with 8:33 to play.
Lyles converted a three-point play and Jourdan Grant scored off a turnover in transition 15 seconds later to quickly give UMBC a 57-52 lead; it was the home team's first lead since 15-14 at 12:34 of the first half.
A Leissner basket down low and Jordan 3-pointer from the top of the key left New Hampshire into a 57-57 tie at 6:11.
A driving layup by Lyles put the Retrievers back in front, but Jordan answered at the other end with a pull-up jumper at the foul line to once again tie the score.
Daniel Akin missed two free throws at 4:24, but Lamar grabbed the offensive rebound and hit a 3-pointer to give UMBC a lead it would not relinquish, 62-59 at 4:20.
The home team inched ahead, 65-59, for its largest lead of the game with 2:24 to play.
Leissner made two foul shots, but Joe Sherburne's layup reestablished a six-point advantage at 1:40.
John Ogwuche (Makurdi, Nigeria) hit a hanging jumper from the left wing and UNH immediately called its last timeout at 1:24.
The Wildcats missed long jumpers on their next two possessions and UMBC made 2 of 4 free throws to take a 69-63 lead with 28 seconds on the clock.
Hopkins went 2-for-2 at the line to trim the deficit to four points with 17.8 remaining, but Sherburne matched that at the other end of the court to give UMBC a 71-65 lead with 14.7 to play.
Ogwuche closed the scoring on a putback with 2.9 remaining.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

New Hampshire generated a five-point halftime lead with a strong shooting half of 46.4% from the floor, including 64.3% (9-14) from 3-point range.
In comparison, the 'Cats had a .360 field goal percentage in the second half that included 2 of 13 (15.4%) on 3's. UNH's defense limited the Retrievers to a .364 field goal percentage – 2-for-7 on 3's -- in the second half.
UNH committed a season-high 18 turnovers; UMBC converted that into 17 points.
UNH recorded a 40-33 rebounding advantage and a 10-7 edge in second-chance points.
UMBC outscored the 'Cats 26-16 in the paint.

UNH NOTEBOOK

Camara ascended to No. 2 on UNH's career rebounds leaderboard. With a game-high 12 rebounds vs. UMBC, Camara increased his career total to 840 to surpass Dane DiLiegro (2008-11; 837 rebounds).
Leissner extended his UNH career records to 457 free throws made and 590 free throws attempted.
Leissner entered the program's Top 10 career leaderboard for minutes played and he is No. 9 at 3,498. He passed Keith Carpenter (3,464 from 1986-90) and Marcus Bullock (3,468 from 2000-04).
The last three regular-season meetings against UMBC have been decided by a total of 10 points.
UNH is winless on the road (0-6) and 0-5 in games decided by less than five points.