Stewart, Leissner Lead 'Cats Past UAlbany, 64-61

Saturday, January 6

Durham, N.H.

1 PM

University of New Hampshire

5-11, 1-1AE

University at Albany

12-5, 0-2AE

Albany

New Hampshire

Photo by: Steve McLaughlin

1/6/2018 5:02:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Video Highlights Postgame Interviews

DURHAM, N.H.– Tanner Leissner (Converse, Texas) scored a team-high 19 points and Darryl Stewart (Atlanta, Ga.) recorded a career-high eight assists to lead the University of New Hampshire men's basketball team to Saturday afternoon's 64-61 America East victory against University at Albany at Lundholm Gym.

Leissner made 7 of 15 field goals and 4 of 5 free throws, including a key three-point play that gave UNH a 61-55 lead with 2:40 remaining, for 19 points. He also pulled down six rebounds and played all 40 minutes.

Stewart, who played 26 minutes off the bench, recorded eight points – including a pair of 3-pointers – and eight assists before fouling out with 1:40 to play.

UAlbany was led by Joe Cremo (20 points), Greig Stire (13p, nine rebounds) and Travis Charles (12p).

UNH improved to 5-11 overall, 1-1 in America East and 5-3 at home. UAlbany, which had a 10-1 record through 11 games, is now 12-5, 0-2 AE.

LOOKING AHEAD

New Hampshire returns to action Jan. 10 (7 p.m.) at home against Binghamton University. Tickets are available online at www.unhwildcats.com or by calling (603) 862-4000.

DOWN THE STRETCH

UNH took its largest lead of the game, 56-43, at 9:21 of the second half when Josh Hopkins (Greensboro, N.C.; 13 points) drove the left baseline for a layup.
The Great Danes closed within six points, 56-50, on Charles' jumper at 4:55.
Cremo drilled a 3-pointer from the top-right wing to trim the deficit to four points, 59-55, at 3:05.
UNH lost the ball on the ensuing possession, but Iba Camara (Dakar, Senegal) immediately stole the ball and found Leissner underneath the basket and he completed the three-point play.
David Nichols made one of two foul shots, but Cremo grabbed the offensive rebound and then Stire followed the next miss with a tip-in to pull the visitors within 62-58 at 1:19.
UNH, without a timeout, was forced into a turnover on a UAlbany double team in front of the Wildcats' bench.
Cremo hit his fourth 3-pointer of the game to lift the Great Danes within one point, 62-61, with one minute remaining.
The 'Cats missed a runner in the lane, but Camara pulled down one of his game-high 12 rebounds and converted that into a layup and 54-61 lead with 35 seconds on the clock.
UAlbany opted to not call a timeout, and Cremo missed from close range. Nichols corralled the offensive rebound with 14 seconds to play, but Camara stole the ball with four seconds remaining and tipped it to John Ogwuche (Makurdi, Nigeria), who threw the ball to the frontcourt to run out the clock and secure the win.

GAME RECAP

Cremo hit the first basketball of the game and UAlbany held a small lead until UNH tied the score at 17 on a pair of Leissner foul shots at 8:35.
The Great Danes scored on its next three possessions with a 3 by Cremo, layup by Nichols and jumper by Charles to build a 24-17 lead.
Hopkins (13 points) hit one of his three 3-pointers to quickly narrow the gap to 24-20, but another Nichols layup and two fouls shot by Stire gave the visitors their largest lead of the game – eight points – of 28-20 at 4:12.
UNH closed the half on an 11-2 run.
A layup by Luke Rosinski (Derry, N.H.) and Stewart's 3-pointer lifted the 'Cats within 30-27, and Ogwuche connected from long range with 22 seconds on the clock to give New Hampshire a 31-30 lead into halftime.
Stire's three-point play gave UAlbany a 34-33 lead early in the second half, but the Wildcats answered with a 7-0 run on a pair of Leissner field goals and Hopkins' 3-pointer to surge back in front, 40-34, at 16:39.
UNH extend the lead to double digits, 46-35, on Hopkins' layup at 12:47.
Keon Burns (Beaverton, Ore.) hit both of his 3-pointers in the next three minutes to help keep the advantage at double digits, and moments later the Wildcats built their largest lead of the game before UAlbany made its charge in the closing minutes.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

New Hampshire held UAlbany below its season average in field goal percentage and 3-point field goal percentage with marks of 40.8% from the floor and 28.6% on 3-pointers. The Great Danes entered the game at 47.2% and 36.3%, respectively.
UNH and UAlbany entered the game ranked 1-2 in the conference in rebounding. The Wildcats won the battle of the boards, 41-34. That included 12-7 on the offensive glass that led to a 14-5 edge in second-chance points.
UAlbany made 17 of 27 free throws (63.0%). UNH was 4-for-6.
The Wildcats made 10 of 24 3-pointers (41.7%).

UNH NOTEBOOK

Leissner played all 40 minutes for the second time this season and scored 19 points the second consecutive game.
He climbed to No. 5 on the program's career leaderboard for field goals attempted at 1,263, as well as No. 7 in career minutes at 3,538.
Camara, who entered the game ranked No 16 in the nation in rebounding, pulled down double-digit rebounds for the fourth time the past five games.
Evan Horn (Lebanon, Pa.), who joined the team in late December after playing all 15 games as a redshirt freshman safety on UNH's football team, made his collegiate debut. He recorded two points, five rebounds and an assist in 11 minutes.
UNH has won 8 of the last 11 home games vs. UAlbany.
UNH is now 1-5 in games decided by less than five points this season.
New Hampshire used its ninth different starting lineup of the season (in 16 games): Camara, Leissner and Jacoby Armstrong (Dallas, Texas) in the frountcourt with Ogwuche and Elijah Jordan (Olrando, Fla.) in the backcourt.