Martinez Records Double-Double in 71-67 Loss at Niagara

Sunday, December 9

Niagara Falls, N.Y.

12:30 PM

University of New Hampshire

2-8

Niagara

4-4

New Hampshire

Niagara University

Photo by: Michelle Bronner

12/9/2018 3:19:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Freshman Forward Led Wildcats with Career Highs in Both Points (20) and Rebounds (13)

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – Jayden Martinez (Cibolo, Texas) recorded 20 points and 13 rebounds for the University of New Hampshire, but Niagara University ended the game on a 5-0 run the last 30 seconds to rally for a 71-67 win in Saturday afternoon's men's basketball non-conference game at the Gallagher Center.

The point and rebound totals are both team and career highs for Martinez, who recorded his first career double-double. He made 8 of 14 field goal attempts, including 2-for-6 on 3-pointers, and also had three assists and two blocks in 33 minutes off the bench.

Jordan Reed (Lucas, Texas) finished with 12 points, four rebounds and three assists. Marque Maultsby (Raleigh, N.C.), in his first career start, matched his career high of 12 points.

Niagara was led by James Towns (23 points, six rebounds, six assists), Marvin Prochet (15 points) and Raheem Solomon (14 points). Chris Barton grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds.

UNH moves to 2-8 and NU is now 4-4.

LOOKING AHEAD

* New Hampshire returns to action Dec. 19 (11 a.m.) at home for Education Day against Marist College. 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

* UNH scored the first points on Reed's 3-pointer at 19:08.

* With the score tied at 8, a layup by Elijah Jordan (Orlando, Fla.) sparked a 12-3 run that was followed by Jordan's basket on the left blocks and a Martinez basket from close range after he backed in his defender on the right blocks.

* Niagara hit a 3-pointer to close within 14-11 at 10:03, but the Wildcats answered with another 6-0 spurt -- Martinez hit a pair of fouls shots and made a transition layup, then Maultsby drove the lane for a bucket -- to push the advantage to 20-11 at 6:46.

* The Purple Eagles responded with an 11-2 run to level the score, 22-22, at 6:09.

* Martinez connected on a long-range shot from the left side to put the 'Cats back in front, 25-22, at 5:13.

* Niagara outscored UNH 10-4 the last five minutes of the half to take a 32-29 lead into halftime. The 30-29 lead marked the home team's first lead since 6-5 at 14:03.

SECOND HALF

* The Purple Eagles struck first to extend the advantage to five points, but Reed drilled a 3-ball from the right wing to ignite an 11-4 run that gave New Hampshire a 40-36 lead.

* Niagara, bolstered by five 3-pointers, surged out to a 55-45 lead that prompted a UNH timeout at 8:50. Maultsby then completed a three-point play to stop the run.

* Trailing 62-53, Jordan hit a pair of free throws and Maultsby's 3-pointer lifted the 'Cats within 62-58 at 4:50.

* Nick Guadarrama (Newington, Conn.) hit a 3-ball with the shot clock winding down to trim the deficit to 66-63 at 2:15.

* That basket fueled a 7-0 run in which Maultsby drove the lane for a layup and then hit a pair of foul shots to give UNH a 67-66 lead with 41.5 seconds remaining.

* Niagara called time out with 38.2 to play, and the 'Cats had two fouls to give, which advanced the clock to 28.8 seconds and another timeout by the home team.

* Towns made a driving layup and completed a three-point play to put the Purple Eagles back in front, 69-67, with 21.2 on the clock.

* New Hampshire called its last timeout at 17.9, and then Maultsby's pull-up jumper from the right elbow hit off the front of the rim. Keleaf Tate pulled down the defensive rebound, was fouled and hit both ends of the 1-and-1 with 5.6 seconds left to give Niagara a 71-67 lead.

SERIES NOTEBOOK

* UNH has a 5-14 lifetime record against Niagara. These programs met 17 times spanning the 1980-81 to 1988-89 seasons as members of the North Atlantic Conference (now America East).

* This was the Wildcats' first trip to Niagara since Jan. 21, 1989 (UNH won 81-80).

UNH NOTEBOOK

* This marked the eighth consecutive game with a different starting lineup.

* Guadarrama finished with eight points and six rebounds in 25 minutes off the bench.

* Martinez's 20 points marked the highest by a Wildcat this season. The 13 rebounds are also the most by a 'Cat this year.

* Martinez has now been UNH's top scorer and rebounder in a game twice this year.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

* UNH's field goal percentage (37.3%) improved from the first half (33.3%) to the second (41.9%). That included 3-point field goals, on which the 'Cats shot 16.7 percent (3-18) in the first half and 37.5 percent (6-16) in the second for a mark of 26.5 percent overall.

* Niagara's FG percentage also improved from first half (38.7%) to second half (51.7%) for an overall mark of 45.0 percent. The Purple Eagles made 7 of 26 3-pointers (26.9%).

* UNH had a 39-38 rebounding advantage that included 9-5 on the offensive glass.

* Niagara had the edge in points in the paint (32-28), points off turnovers (12-10) and fastbreak points (8-2). Both teams netted 10 second-chance points.

* Both teams committed just seven turnovers.