'Cats Edged by Florida International at the Buzzer, 70-69

Saturday, November 30

Miami, Fla.

7 PM

University of New Hampshire

4-4

Florida International

5-3

FIU

11/30/2019 10:14:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

MIAMI --The University of New Hampshire men's basketball team took Florida International University to the final buzzer, but the Panthers made one free throw with 1.4 seconds left to record a 70-69 victory Saturday night at Ocean Bank Convocation Center.

Josh Hopkins (Greensboro, N.C.) matched his career high of 23 points, while both Nick Guadarrama (Newington, Conn.) and Jayden Martinez (Cibolo, Texas) recorded a double-double. Guadarrama finished with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Martinez had 11 points, 11 rebounds.

UP NEXT / NEXT HOME GAME: UNH returns to action Dec 4 (7 p.m.) at home against Maine Maritime.

BUY TICKETS: Tickets for a UNH men's basketball game start as low as $3 and can be purchased by calling (603) 862-4000, visiting the Whittemore Center Box Office or by going online to www.unhwildcats.com.

FIRST HALF

* FIU quickly jumped out to a 9-0 lead 67 seconds into the game, prompting UNH to call time out.

* Hopkins hit a 3-pointer from the right wing and another from the left wing to trim the deficit to 9-6 at 17:08.

* Trailing 13-9, the Wildcats went on a 7-1 run to take their first lead of the game, 16-14, at 12:53 when Martinez connected on a 3-pointer from the right corner.

* FIU regained the lead, 20-18, before Guadarrama went up-and-under on the left blocks to knot the score at 10:45 and Maultsby drained a 3-ball from the top of the key to put UNH back in front, 23-20, at 7:18.

* The Panthers scored seven consecutive points, however, and closed the half on a 15-4 run to take a 35-27 lead into halftime.

SECOND HALF

* Maultsby opened the scoring with a putback at 19:37, then Lester hit back-to-back 3-pointers to tie the score, 35-35, at 18:14.

* With UNH trailing 42-39, Hopkins made back-to-back baskets to give the Wildcats a 43-42 lead -- their first since 23-20 with seven minutes left in the first half.

* The teams exchanged scores to advance the score to 53-51 in favor of the 'Cats with 11 minutes remaining.

* FIU surged back in front, 56-53, but New Hampshire responded with a 13-2 run to build a 66-58 advantage at 4:45.

* The spurt was ignited by consecutive layups from Marque Maultsby (Raleigh, N.C) and Guadarrama as UNH went back in front, 57-56, at 8:12.

* Guadarrama's putback pushed the margin to 59-56 at 6:41.

* Following an FIU field goal, Hopkins completed a three-point play and then Martinez and Guadarrama converted from the blocks to give the 'Cats their largest lead of the game, 66-58, at 4;45.

* The Panthers were whistled for a technical foul at 4:25, but UNH missed both foul shots and the home team made two attempts at the other end of the court to close within 66-60.

* FIU rallied to tie the score at 66 with 2:55 remaining, but Martinez answered with a three-point play to put the Wildcats back on top, 69-66, at 2:09.

* Chris Lester (Barrington, Ill.) drew an offensive charge with 1:22 to play, but the 'Cats were forced into an errant shot that led to a shot-clock violation with 51.9 seconds to go.

* Eric Lovett's 3-pointer tied the score at 69 with 41.1 seconds on the clock.

* New Hampshire called time out at 32.6 but missed a field goal attempt in the lane with 19 seconds remaining.

* FIU's Antonio Daye, Jr. drew a blocking foul with 1.4 to go. He hit the first free throw to break the tie. After UNH called its last timeout, he missed the second attempt. Guadarrama pulled down the rebound and his length-of-the-court shot caromed high off the backboard and fell to the court as time expired.

UNH NOTEBOOK

* All five UNH starters scored in double digits. Hopkins (23 points) was followed by Maultsby (12), Lester (11), Martinez (10) and Guadarrama (10).

* All five UNH starters played at least 33 minutes. Hopkins played a team-high 37.

* Maultsby also had six rebounds and four assists.

* Martinez's other numbers included two assists, two blocks and two steals.

* Lester pulled down six rebounds.

* New Hampshire started the game with three guards sidelined by injury -- Sean Sutherlin (New Brighton, Minn.), Mark Carbone (Wethersfield, Conn.) and Nick Johnson (Bronx, N.Y.). Blondeau Tchoukuiegno (Montreal, Quebec) left the game with 3:36 left in the first half and did not return.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

* UNH shot 53.1% (17-32) from the floor in the second half and 46.6% (27-58) overall.

* The Wildcats made 6 of 15 first-half 3-pointers, and then 4 of 13 in the second half.

* UNH went 5-for-12 from the foul line. FIU was 11 of 16.

* UNH recorded a 43-31 rebounding advantage.

* FIU scored 25 points off 20 UNH turnovers.

SERIES NOTEBOOK

* This was the first meeting between the New Hampshire and Florida International men's basketball programs.