Watkins' 16 Points Paces UNH in 73-59 Loss to Vermont

Wednesday, January 16

Durham, N.H.

7 PM

University of New Hampshire

3-14, 1-3AE

Vermont

14-4, 4-0AE

VERMONT

New Hampshire

Photo by: Audrey Powell

1/16/2019 10:39:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Video Highlights

DURHAM, N.H. – David Watkins (Dorchester, Mass.) led four University of New Hampshire double-digit scorers with 16 points, but the University of Vermont men's basketball team recorded a 73-59 victory Wednesday night at Lundholm Gym.

Watkins was followed by Jayden Martinez (Cibolo, Texas; 12 points) and Josh Hopkins (Greensboro, N.C.) and Elijah Jordan (Orlando, Fla.), both of whom netted 11 points. Martinez also had eight rebounds in a career-high 36 minutes. Nick Guadarrama (Newington, Conn.) pulled down a team- and career-high 10 rebounds.

UVM also had four double-digit scorers – Anthony Lamb (28), Stef Smith (14), Ernie Duncan (14) and Robin Duncan (11). Lamb led the Catamounts in rebounds (eight) and assists (three).

UNH is now 3-14 overall and 1-3 in America East. Vermont extended it winning streak to five games to improve to 14-4, 4-0.

LOOKING AHEAD
* New Hampshire returns to action Jan. 23 (7 p.m.) at the University of Hartford.
* The Wildcats' next home game is Jan. 26 (1 p.m.) vs. UMBC. 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 took an early 5-3 lead on a jumper by Watkins and 3-pointer from Martinez.
* UVM went on an 11-2 run to take a 14-7 lead at 14:56.
* The Catamounts continued to pull away and led by as many as 17 points, 29-12, on Lamb's layup at 7:15.
* New Hampshire answered with 10 quick points -- in a span of 2 minutes, 9 seconds -- to close within 29-22. Watkins made a short jumper in the paint and then drilled a 3-pointer to ignite the run. Jordan Reed (Lucas, Texas) drove to the basket and completed a three-point play, then Martinez made a tip-in at 5:09.
* With UNH trailing 34-26, Watkins made his second 3-ball of the half with h59 seconds on the clock, then Guadarrama hit a pair of fouls shots to trim the margin to 34-31 with eight seconds left.
* Ernie Duncan countered with a pair of free throws at the other end of the court to make the score 36-31 heading into halftime.

SECOND HALF
* Vermont made two baskets in the opening minute of the second half to quickly extend the advantage to 40-31 and prompt UNH to call a timeout. But the Catamounts scored the next four points to build a 44-31 lead at 16:56.
* UNH answered with an 8-0 spurt to close within 44-39 at 14:03. Guadarrama and Martinez made consecutive layups, Hopkins followed with a 3-pointer and Jordan made one free throw to account for the run.
* SBU pushed the margin back to 14 points, 58-44, on Smith's 3-pointer at 9:54.
* Hopkins drilled back-to-back 3-pointers and Watkins' 3-ball pulled UNH within 59-53 at 8:33.
* Following a basket by Lamb, Martinez also hit a 3-pointer to trim the margin to five points, 61-56, at 7:10. At that point, the Wildcats made 6 of 8 second-half 3-pointers.
* Ernie Duncan made a jumper and two foul shots to help the Catamounts reestablish a double-digit lead, 67-56, at 4:51.
* Watkins converted a three-point play at 4:26, but the home team did not score the rest of the way.

SERIES NOTEBOOK
* New Hampshire has a 49-102 lifetime record against Vermont. The Catamounts have won 10 straight in the series dating back to UNH's 73-68 home win Jan. 22, 2015.

UNH NOTEBOOK
* Watkins also recorded three rebounds, two assists and a block in 32 minutes.
* Reed finished with a team-high three assists.
* UNH is now 3-5 at home this season and that includes 1-1 in conference play.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
* There were zero ties and three lead changes.
* UVM made 27 of 55 field goals (49.1 percent), including 7-for-12 (58.3 percent) on 3-pointers.
* UNH was 21-for-53 from the floor (39.6 percent) and that included 10 of 21 on 3-pointers (47.6 percent).
* UVM finished with a 33-31 rebounding edge. UNH had a 7-5 edge on the offensive glass.
* The Catamounts committed just seven turnovers. The home team had 12.
* UVM outscored UNH in the paint (24-18) and had a 19-10 edge in points off turnovers.
* Neither team netted a fastbreak point.