Lester's Career-High 15 Points Propels 'Cats Past UAlbany, 62-58

Wednesday, February 27

Albany, N.Y.

7 PM

University of New Hampshire

4-23 (2-12AE)

Albany

11-18 (6-8AE)

New Hampshire

UALBANY

Photo by: Photo - Bill Ziskin

Lester's Career-High 15 Points Propels 'Cats Past UAlbany, 62-58

2/27/2019 10:09:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Josh Hopkins Hits Two Foul Shots With 0.9 Seconds Remaining to Secure Win

ALBANY, N.Y. – Chris Lester (Barrington, Ill.) scored a career-high 15 points and Josh Hopkins (Greensboro, N.C.) hit a pair of free throws with 0.9-of-a-second remaining to lift the University of New Hampshire men's basketball team to Wednesday night's 62-58 victory against the University at Albany at SEFCU Arena.

Lester, who hit the front end of the 1-and-1 at the foul line to give UNH a 60-58 lead with 11.5 seconds left, made 5 of 9 field goals, including a career-high four 3-pointers. He also had six rebounds and two steals.

Hopkins finished with 11 points and was followed by Nick Guadarrama (Newington, Conn.) and Marque Maultsby (Raleigh, N.C.) with 10 each. Guadarrama's other stats included seven rebounds, three assists and two steals. Maultsby tallied five assists to match his personal best.

UNH improved to 4-23 overall and 2-12 in America East. Combined with the University of Maine's loss Wednesday night, the Wildcats are one game behind the Black Bears with two games remaining.

UAlbany is now 11-18, 6-8. The Great Danes were led by Cameron Healy (14 points), Antonio Rizzuto (12) and Ahmad Clark (11).

LOOKING AHEAD

* New Hampshire returns to action March 2 (1 p.m.) at UMBC. The Wildcats wrap up the regular season March 5 (7 p.m.) with a Senior Day matchup against Maine.

* 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

* There were three ties and one lead change in the first half -- all in the opening 3:32 of the game.

* With the score tied 6-6, UAlbany scored back-to-back baskets to take a 10-6 lead at 15:33.

* The Great Danes took its largest lead of the half, nine points, by a score of 17-9 at 11:05.

* UNH trailed 20-13 before Guadarrama drove the right wing and hit a runner off the glass at 7:32 and Maultsby made a fastbreak layup to lift the Wildcats within 20-17 at 7:00.

* The teams exchanged 3-pointers, with Jordan Reed (Lucas, Texas) and Josh Hopkins (Greensboro, N.C.) connecting for the 'Cats, as UAlbany extended its lead to 31-23 at 4:08.

* UNH closed the half on a 5-0 run in the last three minutes to trim the deficit to 32-30. Guadarrama hit a 3-ball from the top of the key and Maultsby drove the right baseline for a layup.

SECOND HALF

* There were three ties and three lead changes in the second half.

* UAlbany scored first, but Reed hit a long two-pointer and Hopkins followed that with a 3-pointer and Guadarrama made one foul shot to put New Hampshire back in front, 36-34. It was the Wildcats' first lead since 2-0 in the opening minute.

* The Great Danes surged back in front, 42-38, at 12:46.

* With the score tied at 46, Mark Carbone (Wethersfield, Conn.) hit a 3-pointer from the right wing to give UNH a 49-46 lead at 8:23, and the 'Cats stayed in front the rest of the way.

* Maultsby hit a driving layup on back-to-back possessions to extend a two-point lead into a 56-50 advantage at 4:59.

* After the home team made a pair of free throws, Lester connected on his fourth 3-ball of the night to push the cushion to 59-52 at 4:16.

* Clark made two foul shots to trim the margin to 59-58 with 26.8 seconds remaining. UAlbany tied the ball up on the ensuing inbounds pass, but possession remained with the Wildcats.

* UNH called timeout with 24.8 on the clock and Reed was immediately fouled. Reed, the team leader with a .880 percentage, missed the front end of the 1-and-1.

* The Great Danes pulled down the rebound, but Rizzuto missed a 3-pointer. Lester grabbed the loose ball and was fouled with 11.5 to play.

* Lester made one foul shot to give the 'Cats a 60-58 lead. UAlbany pushed the ball and Healy's 3-pointer caromed off the rim and out of bounds with 1.7 on the clock.

* UNH called its last timeout and Hopkins was fouled after catching the long inbounds pass. He hit both foul shots with 0.9 left to secure the win.

SERIES NOTEBOOK

* New Hampshire has a 17-24 lifetime record against UAlbany. This is the fourth consecutive year the season series has ended in a split.

UNH NOTEBOOK

* This was a season-high fifth consecutive game New Hampshire used the same starting lineup: Guadarrama, Hopkins, Lester, Maultsby and Reed.

* All five UNH starters played at least 30 minutes. Reed played all 40.

* The Wildcats' starting five scored 55 of the team's 62 points. Carbone scored five points in six minutes off then bench.

* This was UNH's first win since Jan. 9 (68-64 vs. UMass Lowell).

* This marked the Wildcats' first road win of the season.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

* UNH's defense held UAlbany to 10 percent 3-point shooting in the second half (1-10). The Great Danes were 5-for-11 from beyond the arc in the first half.

* The Wildcats limited the home team to a .286 field goal percentage in the second half (6-21).

* Both teams made 12 of 24 first-half field goals. UNH was 3-for-10 from 3-point range.

* The 'Cats continued to shoot well in the second half at 42.3 percent (11-26) and finished the game shooting 46.0 percent from the floor, including 40.9 percent on 3-pointers (9-22).

* UNH committed fewer turnovers (8-14).

* UAlbany recorded a 34-26 rebounding advantage.

* Points in the paint were even at 22.

* UNH's defense did not allow a fastbreak point.