Watkins Has Career Day (24p, 11r) in 76-68 Loss at Dartmouth

Sunday, December 30

Hanover, N.H.

12 PM

University of New Hampshire

2-11

Dartmouth

9-6

New Hampshire

Dartmouth

Watkins Has Career Day (24p, 11r) in 76-68 Loss at Dartmouth

12/30/2018 3:06:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

HANOVER, N.H. – David Watkins (Dorchester, Mass.) recorded his second career double-double with 24 points and 11 rebounds -- both career highs -- but the University of New Hampshire men's basketball team was defeated 76-68 by intrastate rival Dartmouth College at Leede Arena on Sunday afternoon.

Watkins made 9 of 18 field goals, including 3 of 9 from 3-point range, and was 3 of 5 from the foul line to account for his game-high 24 points. The 11 rebounds matched a personal best. Watkins was also credited with two assists and a steal in 32 minutes off the bench.

Jordan Reed (Lucas, Texas) finished with 13 points and a team-high three assists, as well as two steals and one rebound.

Dartmouth was led by Ian Sistare (21 points), Chris Knight (17) and Aaryn Rai (13).

UNH ends the non-conference portion of its schedule at 2-11. DC is now 9-6.

LOOKING AHEAD

* New Hampshire returns to action Jan. 5, 2019 (2 p.m.) for its America East conference opener at Binghamton University.

* The Wildcats' next home game is Jan. 9 (7 p.m.) against UMass Lowell. Tickets for all home games are available online at www.unhwildcats.com or by calling (603) 862-4000.

SHOP UNH: Check out UNHShop.com for the latest in official UNH Wildcats' merchandise.

FIRST HALF

* Dartmouth quickly jumped out to a 6-0 lead on a dunk and two layups, which prompted a UNH timeout just 92 seconds into the game.

* Josh Hopkins (Greensboro, N.C.) made a transition layup and Elijah Jordan (Orlando, Fla.) hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key to lift the Wildcats within 6-5 at 17:07.

* The Big Green responded with two more layups to take a 10-5 lead into the first media timeout at 15:07.

* Trailing 26-14, UNH's Nick Guadarrama (Newington, Conn.) and Watkins hit back-to-back 3's to lift the 'Cats within 26-20 at 6:00.

* After DC made a 3-ball, Watkins made a short jumper on the left blocks, Mark Carbone (Wethersfield, Conn.) hit a pull-up J from the right elbow and Guadarrama drove the lane for a layup to trim the deficit to 29-26 at 3:34.

* Reed made a pair of free throw to make it a two-point game, 32-30, at 1:08.

* Following a DC 3-pointer, Carbone connected on a 3-ball from the right wing and UNH made a defensive stop to end the half 35-33 in favor of the home team.

SECOND HALF

* New Hampshire held Dartmouth scoreless the opening four minutes of the second half to take a 41-35 lead. Carbone sparked the 8-0 run with a pair of free throws. Reed followed with a pair of foul shots to give UNH its first lead of the game, 37-35, at 18:56. Watkins and Carbone then hit baseline jumpers to extend the advantage to six points.

* Reed's 3-pointer gave the Wildcats their largest lead of the game, 49-41, at 13:38.

* The Big Green inched within 49-46 before Hopkins made a 3-ball to establish a six-point cushion at 10:25.

* Dartmouth went on an 8-0 to regain the lead, 54-52, at 7:15.

* Jordan's layup tied the score at 7:00 and Watkins drove down the lane for a layup to put the 'Cats back in front, 56-54, at 6:37.

* DC went on a 7-0 spurt the next 97 seconds to surge ahead 61-56, and the home team built a 64-57 advantage at 3:31.

* Hopkins made a 3-pointer from the top of the key to trim the margin to 64-60 at 3:13 and UNH immediately called a timeout.

* Aaryn Rai answered with a 3-pointer to reestablish a seven-point lead at 2:53.

* Following a missed 3-point shot by UNH, Rai hit two free throws to advance the score to 69-60.

* The 'Cats turned the ball over on the ensuing possession, but Reed then stole the ball and DC was whistled for an intentional foul on the breakaway. Reed made both free throws, and on the same possession Watkins completed a three-point play to lift UNH within 69-65 at 1:24.

* Dartmouth made 7 of 8 foul shots in the last minute to secure the win.

SERIES NOTEBOOK

* UNH has a 35-31 record against Dartmouth that includes 10-4 in the 14-year tenure of Wildcats' head coach Bill Herrion.

* The home team has won each of the last four matchups.

UNH NOTEBOOK

* Watkins surpassed his previous career high of 16 points established one game earlier against Fairfield University.

* The other time Watkins pulled down 11 rebounds in a game was Nov. 27, 2016 at Winthrop. That game also marked his other career double-double (11p, 11r).

* Hopkins made his return to the lineup -- as a starter -- after missing the previous six games with a foot injury. He finished with eight points and one rebound in 28 minutes.

* Reed was a perfect 6-for-6 from the foul line and is 24 of 26 this season.

* Today marked the ninth different starting lineup used this season. Hopkins, Reed, Jordan, Guadarrama and Luke Rosinski (Derry, N.H.) were on the court for the opening tip.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

* Dartmouth made 29 of 38 free throw attempts while UNH was 11-for-13 at the foul line.

* Field goal percentage was nearly even. The Wildcats shot 43.6 percent (24-55) from the floor and the Big Green shot 44.7 percent (21-47).

* UNH made 9 of 25 shots from 3-point range in comparison to the home team's 5-for-20 effort from beyond the arc.

* DC had a 36-25 rebounding advantage that included 11-6 on the offensive glass. The Big Green also committed fewer turnovers (6-10).

* Dartmouth outscored UNH 30-20 in the paint.