DURHAM, NH - Junior forward Jayden Martinez (Cibolo, Texas) carried the UNH men's basketball team with 19 points and 13 rebounds in 39 minutes to lead the Wildcats past Hartford, 53-51, on Monday afternoon at Lundholm Gym.
Junior Tayler Mattos (New London, N.H.) made his presence felt in the paint, tallying eight points to go along with nine rebounds in his second game to help push the Wildcats to 3-2 on the season and 2-0 in America East competition with the back-to-back wins against the Hawks (5-4, 2-2 AE).
Austin Williams led the way for Hartford with 16 points while shooting 67 percent (2-for-3) from 3-point range. UNH outrebounded Hartford by a 42-37 margin and shot 34.5 percent (19 of 55) from the field to Hartford's 25 percent (11 of 44). The Cats' outscored Hartford, 24-10, in the paint.
Jayden Martinez posted 19 points and 13 rebounds while playing a team-leading 39 minutes
First Half:
UNH jumped out to a 7-0 lead early on a 3-pointer from Martinez.
UNH held Hartford to one point (0 FGs) in the first 5:05 leading to the media timeout to hold the lead at 7-1.
Hartford opened up a 9-2 run to take a 10-9 lead over the 'Cats at about the midway point in the half.
UNH was held scoreless for just under five minutes before a steal and breakaway layup from Nick Johnson (Bronx, N.Y.) allowed New Hampshire to reclaim the lead, 11-10.
Hartford took a 13-11 advantage into the media timeout at 7:55, all part of a 12-4 run for the Hawks.
The 'Cats rattled off seven straight points with five in a row from Johnson to take a 26-22 lead.
Hartford hit two late free throws to make it 26-24 in favor of the 'Cats at halftime.
Tayler Mattos scored eight points and pulled down nine rebounds in his second game as a Wildcat
Second Half:
A 5-0 run across a four-minute span extended the Wildcats' lead to 35-29 at 13:41.
Scoring picked up with both sides trading baskets and UNH clinging to a 39-36 advantage at the 11:19 media timeout.
The Wildcats and Hawks traded 3s on back-to-back possessions to bring the score to 46-42 in favor of UNH at 7:10.
Hartford took its first lead since 1:56 in the first half on two free throws to make it 50-48 with 2:17 remaining.
UNH answered quickly on a 3-pointer from Martinez to take the lead, 51-50, with two minutes remaining.
Hartford's Moses Flowers made the first and missed the second free throw with 8.9 seconds remaining to tie the game, 51-51.
Nick Guadarrama (Newington, Conn.) nabbed the ensuing defensive rebound and was fouled with 6.9 seconds remaining.
Guadarrama made both FT attempts to give UNH a 53-51 lead in the final seconds.
UNH closed the game on a 5-2 run in the final 2:17.
Nick Johnson scored nine of the Wildcats' 24 bench points on 4-for-8 shooting
WILDCAT NOTEBOOK:
UNH improved to 3-1 at home this season.
Martinez reached a season-high in points, minutes, field goals made, and 3-point field goals made, as well as tallying his third triple-double on the season and 16th of his career.
Johnson posted nine points and three assists while shooting 50 percent (4-for-8) from the field.
UP NEXT:
The Wildcats will travel to Maine on Saturday, Jan. 2 (1 p.m.) and Sunday, Jan. 3 (1 p.m.) to face the Black Bears in the Border Battle, presented by Buffalo Wild Wings, at Memorial Gym.
