University of New Hampshire Athletics
University of New Hampshire
1-1,0-0America East
Bryant
1-1,0-0NEC
McClurg Scores Career-High 18 Points in 93-85 Loss to Bryant
12/1/2020 7:44:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Bryant 93, UNH 85
Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020
Lundholm Gym | Durham, N.H.
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE
PHOTO GALLERY
DURHAM, N.H. – K.J. McClurg (Morgantown, W.Va.) led four University of New Hampshire men's basketball players in double-digit scoring with 18 points, but Bryant University closed the game on a 15-5 run in the last four minutes to pull away for a 93-85 victory Tuesday afternoon at Lundholm Gym.
Both teams are now 1-1 on the season.
McClurg, a freshman guard, was a perfect 8-for-8 from the foul line, and also had three rebounds and two assists. Nick Guadarrama (Newington, Conn.; 16 points), Josh Hopkins (Greensboro, N.C.; 14) and Jayden Martinez (Cibolo, Texas; 10) were the other Wildcats in double digits. Guadarrama pulled down a game-high 15 rebounds.
Michael Green III (23 points) and Peter Kiss (22) led five Bryant double-digit scorers. Hall Elisias recorded a double-double with 13 points and team-high 11 rebounds.
UNH is scheduled to return to action Sunday, Dec. 5 (2 p.m.) at Quinnipiac University.
"We had some really good performances," UNH head coach Bill Herrion said. "K.J. McClurg, second college game and first Division I game of his career, was probably our best guard on the court. He played terrific… Good to have Josh Hopkins back. He made some 3's, which we need him to do.
"We've got to get more out of our frontcourt. Nick Guadarrama, we can't take him off the court right now. He's playing well, and he's that much of a factor. I think we need to get more help up there."
FIRST HALF
• There were four ties and eight lead changes in the first half, when neither team led by more than six points.
• The Bulldogs scored the first two points of the game and maintained a small lead until Guadarrama's three-point play gave the Wildcats an 18-17 lead at 11:13.
• That sequence ignited a 7-0 run to give the home team a 22-17 advantage, but Bryant responded with six consecutive points to go back in front, 23-22, at 9:30.
• The teams exchanged scores and leads until the Bulldogs went on another 6-0 run to surge to a 33-28 lead at 5:35.
• UNH closed within one point, 36-35, on a putback by Chris Lester (Barrington, Ill.) with 3:39 on the clock and again at 2:13 on a 3-pointer by Guadarrama (39-38).
• Bryant inched out to a 46-40 lead and took a 46-44 lead into halftime.
SECOND HALF
• There were six ties and seven lead changes in the final 20 minutes.
• McClurg hit three foul shots to tie the score, 54-54, at 15:49, but the Bulldogs responded with an 8-0 run sparked by five points from Kiss.
• Trailing 64-57 with 12 minutes remaining, UNH netted eight consecutive points on a pair of McClurg foul shots, a 3-pointer by Hopkins and basket by Marque Maultsby (Raleigh, N.C.) to take a 65-64 lead at 10:51.
• Maultsby hit a 3-ball to give the 'Cats a 78-77 lead with 4:53 remaining.
• Green III made 1 of 2 from the foul line to tie the score, then Charles Pride scored four consecutive points to give the Bulldogs an 82-78 lead at 3:12 that would not be relinquished.
• Maultsby's driving layup was answered by Chris Childs' 3-pointer to advance the score to 85-80 at 1:45.
• Kiss hit two free throws with 66 seconds to play, but McClurg connected from long range to lift UNH within 87-83 with 57 seconds remaining.
• Bryant made six consecutive foul shots to build the first double-digit lead of the game, 93-83, with 26 seconds to go.
UNH NOTEBOOK
• Guadarrama recorded his second double-double in as many games this season and now has nine in his career.
• Hopkins, who missed the season opener, hit three 3-pointers and scored 14 points in 28 minutes off the bench.
• Freshman guard Nick Johnson (Bronx, N.Y.) tallied nine points, six rebounds an assist and a steal in 19 minutes off the bench.
• Lester finished with eight points and six reobounds.
• Blondeau Tchoukuiengo (Montreal, Quebec), the reigning America East Rookie of the Week, had a game-high four assists. He also had two points and four rebounds.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
• Bryant outscored UNH 28-16 at the foul line; the Bulldogs had 36 attempts in comparison to New Hampshire's 20.
• The Bulldogs had the scoring edge in the paint (42-30) and on fast breaks (19-8).
• UNH had a 17-8 edge on the offensive glass and turned that into a 25-9 advantage in second-chance points.
• The 'Cats finished with a 50-44 rebounding edge overall.
• Bryant shot 45.3% from the floor (29-64) in comparison to the home team's 36.7% (29-79).
• UNH made 11 of 31 3-pointers (35.5%) and Bryant shot 7-for-20 from 3-point range (35.0%).
• Despite the fact there were 11 ties and 14 lead changes, Bryant led for 28:11 in comparison to UNH's 5:13.
SERIES NOTEBOOK
• UNH has a 4-5 lifetime record, including 3-2 at home, against Bryant.
