University of New Hampshire Athletics
Coach Bill Herrion and the Wildcats discuss strategy during Tuesday night's game at Boston College.
Insider Report: Down Goes BC
12/7/2022 5:11:00 PM | Men's Basketball, UNH Insider
Daniels Shines in Win Over ACC Foe with 34 Points, 14 Rebounds
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Clarence Daniels, who played last year for a junior college team in North Dakota, celebrated his 22nd birthday in impressive fashion by leading the University of New Hampshire men's basketball team to a huge win, 74-71 in overtime, over Boston College in Conte Forum on Tuesday night.
Daniels, a high-flying 6-foot-6 junior forward, was the clear leader of the Wildcats through regulation and poured in 34 points while collecting 14 rebounds.
Junior guard Nick Johnson, the only returner on the team who played significant time last year, took over for overtime and finished with 20 points and eight rebounds.
"Best birthday of my life," said Daniels, with a huge smile. "I'm not going to lie."
The triumph snapped UNH's five-game losing streak and was the first over Boston College since 1986, covering 15 straight wins for the Eagles, who make their home in the prestigious Atlantic Coast Conference. The contest was a "buy" game for the Wildcats, meaning they not only cashed in for the victory, but will get a check from BC for agreeing to come down and play.
"Just a great, great team win for our guys," said UNH coach Bill Herrion. "I'm very happy for them because this has been a tough stretch. I'm hoping this helps our confidence. It should. It should make them feel good."
The Wildcats improved to 3-5 for the season, but have little time to savor the win.
They move on directly to their fourth "buy" game in the first nine games of the season when they play Saturday at 6 p.m. in New York City at St. John's University of the Big East.
The Red Storm took an 8-1 record into their Big East opener Wednesday night at home against DePaul. St. John's won its first eight games of the season – including a stretch of consecutive wins over Nebraska, Temple and Syracuse – before losing at No. 23 Iowa State last Sunday.
UNH has five non-conference games remaining before opening play in America East with contests at UAlbany on Saturday, Dec. 31 and Binghamton on Thursday, Jan. 5.
After St. John's, the Wildcats return to Lundholm Gymnasium to play St. Joseph's (Maine) next Monday, Dec. 12, at 7. They play Holy Cross at home on Monday, Dec. 19 and then wrap up the non-league portion of the schedule with games at Brown (Wednesday, Dec. 21) and Dartmouth (Thursday, Dec. 29).
Tickets for UNH men's basketball games, including sideline seats, may be purchased at www.unhwildcats.com.
The Wildcats will look to build off the BC win heading to St. John's.
"I don't think personally I have been playing well," Daniels said. "So I just came in with the same mindset, just sticking to trusting the process. We're all pushing each other in practice. I'm struggling against these guys. It made me better and prepared me for tonight."
Daniels had back-to-back 18-rebound nights in the previous two games – losses at Columbia and at home against Sacred Heart – but had not been happy with his offensive game.
"We're all struggling as a team offensively," he said. "I feel we're games. When we get in a flow and get in a rhythm and put the ball in the basket, we're going to be a great team."
The Wildcats and Eagles went toe-to-toe all night.
Daniels had 21 points and seven rebounds in the first half and a three-pointer by grad student guard Nazim Derry at the buzzer made it 35-35 at the break.
Daniels nailed his own clutch three-pointer – on a feed by sophomore Trey Woodyard, who was solid all night running the show from the point guard spot – with 1.3 seconds left in regulation to send it to overtime.
The Wildcats trailed 71-66 with 2:50 left in OT.
Johnson made a pair of free throws and then a shot inside with another free throw and it was tied at 71 all. Johnson took the ball away for a steal as an Eagle went toward the hoop and later a defensive rebound.
With 23 seconds left, Derry calmly made another three-pointer and UNH held on from there.
Herrion invoked one of his favorite basketball names when talking about Daniels.
"Clarence Daniels, geesh," the coach said. "That's like a Malik Rose performance right there, back many, many years ago. Just a dominating performance."
Rose was an All American under Herrion at Drexel University and went on to play 13 NBA seasons.
Daniels made 13 of his 19 field goals, including four of his five three-pointers.
His fifth double-double in eight games pushed him to the top of America East in scoring at 16.8 points a game and he also leads the league in rebounds at 11.8.
Last season, he played at Lake Region State College in Devils Lake, N.D.
Johnson missed the first five games of the season with an injury.
Besides the 20 points and eight rebounds, he had three steals and a couple of assists and made nine of his 11 foul shots.
"That's Nick Johnson," Herrion said. "That's what he is. That's what he means to our program. That's what our program is all about. It's toughness. Obviously, he's a very key guy for us. He really kind of took over overtime for us."
Ridvan Tutic, a 6-foot-10 and 230-pound freshman from Serbia, started and played almost 36 minutes and contributed 10 rebounds and seven points., Woodyard added three rebounds and a couple of assists in his first start at the point. Derry was three-for-four in three pointers for nine points and a couple of rebounds. Matthew Herasme chipped in with seven rebounds.
"Our defense has been very good and our guys have been playing really hard and it's put our team in a position to win, but we weren't closing," Herrion said. "Today, we talked about playing 40 minutes before the game and playing a complete game. The guys were terrific, right from the opening tip."
They worked hard for 45 minutes in this one. And closed.
Daniels, a high-flying 6-foot-6 junior forward, was the clear leader of the Wildcats through regulation and poured in 34 points while collecting 14 rebounds.
Junior guard Nick Johnson, the only returner on the team who played significant time last year, took over for overtime and finished with 20 points and eight rebounds.
"Best birthday of my life," said Daniels, with a huge smile. "I'm not going to lie."
The triumph snapped UNH's five-game losing streak and was the first over Boston College since 1986, covering 15 straight wins for the Eagles, who make their home in the prestigious Atlantic Coast Conference. The contest was a "buy" game for the Wildcats, meaning they not only cashed in for the victory, but will get a check from BC for agreeing to come down and play.
"Just a great, great team win for our guys," said UNH coach Bill Herrion. "I'm very happy for them because this has been a tough stretch. I'm hoping this helps our confidence. It should. It should make them feel good."
The Wildcats improved to 3-5 for the season, but have little time to savor the win.
They move on directly to their fourth "buy" game in the first nine games of the season when they play Saturday at 6 p.m. in New York City at St. John's University of the Big East.
The Red Storm took an 8-1 record into their Big East opener Wednesday night at home against DePaul. St. John's won its first eight games of the season – including a stretch of consecutive wins over Nebraska, Temple and Syracuse – before losing at No. 23 Iowa State last Sunday.
UNH has five non-conference games remaining before opening play in America East with contests at UAlbany on Saturday, Dec. 31 and Binghamton on Thursday, Jan. 5.
After St. John's, the Wildcats return to Lundholm Gymnasium to play St. Joseph's (Maine) next Monday, Dec. 12, at 7. They play Holy Cross at home on Monday, Dec. 19 and then wrap up the non-league portion of the schedule with games at Brown (Wednesday, Dec. 21) and Dartmouth (Thursday, Dec. 29).
Tickets for UNH men's basketball games, including sideline seats, may be purchased at www.unhwildcats.com.
The Wildcats will look to build off the BC win heading to St. John's.
"I don't think personally I have been playing well," Daniels said. "So I just came in with the same mindset, just sticking to trusting the process. We're all pushing each other in practice. I'm struggling against these guys. It made me better and prepared me for tonight."
Daniels had back-to-back 18-rebound nights in the previous two games – losses at Columbia and at home against Sacred Heart – but had not been happy with his offensive game.
"We're all struggling as a team offensively," he said. "I feel we're games. When we get in a flow and get in a rhythm and put the ball in the basket, we're going to be a great team."
The Wildcats and Eagles went toe-to-toe all night.
Daniels had 21 points and seven rebounds in the first half and a three-pointer by grad student guard Nazim Derry at the buzzer made it 35-35 at the break.
Daniels nailed his own clutch three-pointer – on a feed by sophomore Trey Woodyard, who was solid all night running the show from the point guard spot – with 1.3 seconds left in regulation to send it to overtime.
The Wildcats trailed 71-66 with 2:50 left in OT.
Johnson made a pair of free throws and then a shot inside with another free throw and it was tied at 71 all. Johnson took the ball away for a steal as an Eagle went toward the hoop and later a defensive rebound.
With 23 seconds left, Derry calmly made another three-pointer and UNH held on from there.
Herrion invoked one of his favorite basketball names when talking about Daniels.
"Clarence Daniels, geesh," the coach said. "That's like a Malik Rose performance right there, back many, many years ago. Just a dominating performance."
Rose was an All American under Herrion at Drexel University and went on to play 13 NBA seasons.
Daniels made 13 of his 19 field goals, including four of his five three-pointers.
His fifth double-double in eight games pushed him to the top of America East in scoring at 16.8 points a game and he also leads the league in rebounds at 11.8.
Last season, he played at Lake Region State College in Devils Lake, N.D.
Johnson missed the first five games of the season with an injury.
Besides the 20 points and eight rebounds, he had three steals and a couple of assists and made nine of his 11 foul shots.
"That's Nick Johnson," Herrion said. "That's what he is. That's what he means to our program. That's what our program is all about. It's toughness. Obviously, he's a very key guy for us. He really kind of took over overtime for us."
Ridvan Tutic, a 6-foot-10 and 230-pound freshman from Serbia, started and played almost 36 minutes and contributed 10 rebounds and seven points., Woodyard added three rebounds and a couple of assists in his first start at the point. Derry was three-for-four in three pointers for nine points and a couple of rebounds. Matthew Herasme chipped in with seven rebounds.
"Our defense has been very good and our guys have been playing really hard and it's put our team in a position to win, but we weren't closing," Herrion said. "Today, we talked about playing 40 minutes before the game and playing a complete game. The guys were terrific, right from the opening tip."
They worked hard for 45 minutes in this one. And closed.
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