University of New Hampshire Athletics
University of New Hampshire
9-8,8-6America East
UMass Lowell
7-9,6-6America East
Martinez Propels 'Cats Past UMass Lowell, 74-63
2/6/2021 8:34:00 PM | Men's Basketball
DURHAM, N.H. – Junior forward Jayden Martinez (Cibolo, Texas) scored a game-high 22 points to elevate the University of New Hampshire men's basketball team past UMass Lowell, 74-63, on Saturday afternoon at Lundholm Gymnasium.
Martinez also posted a game-high nine rebounds while shooting 6-for-13 from the floor, including 5-for-6 from 3-point range; the five 3's matched his career high.
Redshirt freshman Blondeau Tchoukuiengo (Montreal, Quebec) scored 16 points on the strength of 6-for-10 shooting from the field. He also notched a game-high five assists. Classmate Nick Johnson (Bronx, N.Y.; 15 points) and junior Qon Murphy (Charlotte, N.C.; 10 points) also scored in double digits.
The River Hawks were led by Bryce Daley (15 points), Connor Withers (12) and Kalil Thomas (10).
UNH improved to 9-8 overall and 8-6 in America East. UMass Lowell fell to 7-9 and 6-6 in America East action.
FIRST HALF
· UMass Lowell's largest lead of the half was eight points (16-8 at 10:45), while UNH's largest lead was three (23-20 and 25-22).
· There were three ties and seven lead changes. UMass Lowell led for 66.1 percent of the half, while UNH led for 18.4 percent.
· Johnson's layup gave the Wildcats their first lead of the game, 19-18, at 7:07.
· The teams exchanged scored and then another layup by Johnson gave the 'Cats a 23-20 lead at 5:49.
· Trailing 25-22, UML went on a 5-0 spurt to go back in front, 27-25, at 1:24.
· Martinez responded with a 3-pointer and Tchoukuiengo's three-point play gave UNH a 30-29 lead with eight seconds remaining.
· Bryce Daley beat the buzzer to tie the score at 31 heading into halftime.
· Martinez led all players with 12 first-half points, including two 3-pointers and seven rebounds.
· Johnson finished the half with six points. Tchoukuiengo and Nick Gaudarrama (Newington, Conn.) had five points.
SECOND HALF
· UNH led for a majority of the second half (17 minutes, 5 seconds). UMass Lowell led for only 21 seconds, the last of which was at 19:23 of the second half.
· Johnson's pull-up jumper gave the Wildcats a 34-33 lead at 19:03.
· The River Hawks tied the game four more times – at 36, 38, 40 and 42 – before Martinez made another 3-ball to five the 'Cats a 45-42 lead at 14:19 that would not be relinquished.
· UNH's led fluctuated between 3-to-6 points until Murphy and Tchoukuiengo hit back-to-back 3-pointers to extend the advantage to nine points, 62-53, at 6:04.
· Tchoukuiengo made a pair of free throws to push the margin to double digits, 65-55, at 4:42.
· UML inched within four points, 65-61, at 2:15 but the Wildcats closed the game on a 9-2 run to build a 74-63 lead with 32 seconds left.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
· The Wildcats shot 71.4 percent (5-7) from 3-point range in the second half and finished with a game percentage of 44.4 (8-18), the second-best percentage of the season.
· In comparison, UML made 1 of 7 (14.3%) 3-pointers in the second half and was 4-for-12 (33.3%) in the game.
· In the second half, the Wildcats shot 54.2 percent (13-24) from the field and finished with a game percentage of 42.9. UMass-Lowell finished the game shooting 40 percent.
· UNH made 18 of 22 free throws (81.8%).
· The Wildcats finished with a 43-29 rebounding advantage that included a 12-7 edge on the offensive glass, which led to a 13-2 margin in second-chance points.
· UML outscored UNH 30-28 in the paint and 11-7 on fast breaks.
SERIES NOTEBOOK
· UNH has a 10-6 lifetime record against UMass Lowell, all which have come with head coach Bill Herrion at the helm of the program.
· UMass Lowell has won five of the last seven meetings vs. the Wildcats.
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