Guadarrama Scores Game-High 16 Points in 66-62 Win vs. Binghamton

Saturday, February 26

Durham, NH

12 PM

University of New Hampshire

14-12,9-8America East

Binghamton

11-15,8-9America East

Binghamton

New Hampshire

Photo by: China Wong

Guadarrama Scores Game-High 16 Points in 66-62 Win vs. Binghamton

2/26/2022 4:01:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

PHOTO GALLERY

DURHAM, N.H. – Senior forward Nick Guadarrama (Newington, Conn.) scored a game-high 16 points to lead the University of New Hampshire men's basketball team to Saturday afternoon's 66-62 America East conference victory against Binghamton University at Lundholm Gym.

It was both Senior Day and Alumni Day for the Wildcats, who were a perfect 6-for-6 at the foul line in the final 32 seconds to secure the victory.

Guadarrama was also UNH's leader in rebounds (seven), assists (four) and steals (three). Sophomore guard Marco Foster (Chicago, Ill.) recorded 14 points, six rebounds and two assists.

Sophomore point guard Blondeau Tchoukuiegno (Montreal, Quebec) finished with 13 points, six rebounds, four assists, two steals and a blocked shot in playing all 40 minutes. Senior forward Jayden Martinez (Cibolo, Texas), who also played all 40 minutes, scored 10 points and that included making four three throws in the last 32 seconds. Tchoukuiegno made the other two foul shots down the stretch.

Binghamton was led by Christian Hinckson's double-double of 15 points and 14 rebounds. John McGriff was the Bearcats' other double-digit scorer with 12 points.

UNH improves to 14-12 overall, 10-3 at home and 9-8 in America East. Binghamton is now 11-15 overall and 8-9 in the conference.

New Hampshire ends the regular season March 1 (7 p.m.) at UMass Lowell. MBB_scoreboard_02.26.22

"We played hard," Guadarrama said. "First half was a little shaky. Second half we really came together and played better defense. They're a good team but we gutted it out."

"Every time we came into the huddle, we were just talking to each other 'Three stops in row. Three stops in a row.' That was our mentality with those last four minutes. We were just trying to just stop them and keep the ball in our hands as much as possible.

"Our offense has definitely come along (since the beginning of the season)," Guadarrama added. "It's harder to guard us. We have a lot of weapons out there. I feel like if we just keep playing better defense, better defense then we'll be putting ourselves in a good spot."

There were eight ties and six lead changes in the game, and the biggest lead held by either team was eight points.

Trailing 8-7, UNH went on a 9-0 run to build a 16-8 lead. Guadarrama layups at 13:03 and 11:42 sandwiched a three-point play by senior center Tayler Mattos (New London, N.H.) and Tchoukuiegno completed the run with two free throws at 10:24.

Binghamton made a pair of 3-pointers as part of an 8-0 run that tied the game, 16-16, at 7:23.

Foster answered with a 3-ball at the other end of the court to put the Wildcats back in front and spark an 8-0 run that gave UNH a 24-16 lead at 5:07.

The Bearcats scored 10 consecutive points to regain the lead, 26-24, on George Tinsley's basket at 2:07. The teams exchanged field goals the next three possessions to advance the score to 28-28, and neither team broke that tie in the final minute of the first half.

Binghamton inched ahead, 34-29, on Tinsley's jumper at 16:44 of the second half.

Fueled by back-to-back 3-pointers by grad student Chris Lester (Barrington, Ill.) and Foster, UNH went on a 10-4 spurt to go back in front, 41-40, at 10:50.

Trailing 45-53, another UNH 3-pointer – this time by Tchoukuiegno – started a 7-0 run that gave the 'Cats a 50-45 lead at 7:59.

Hinckson hit one foul shot to tie the score, 50-50, at 4:19.

Guadarrama made a layup and then set up a layup by sophomore Nick Johnson (Bronx, N.Y.) to give New Hampshire a 54-50 lead at 3:13. Foster's fastbreak 3-pointer pushed the advantage to 57-50 with 1:49 remaining.

Tyler Bertram's 3-pointer from the right wing ended UNH's run and lifted Binghamton within 57-53 at 1:17, but Foster answered with his fourth 3-pointer of the game to reestablish a seven-point cushion, 60-35, with 54 seconds left.

McGriff missed a 3-point attempt at the other end of the court and Guadarrama pulled down the defensive rebound. Sitting at three team fouls in the second half, the Bearcats committed three consecutive fouls and then Hinckson stole the inbounds pass and made the layup to pull the visitors within 60-55 with 32 seconds on the clock.

Following a UNH timeout, the Bearcats immediately fouled Martinez on the inbounds pass and he made both ends of the 1-and-1 to give the home 'Cats a 62-55 lead.

Bertram's layup made it 62-57 with 25 seconds left. Binghamton called timeout and then fouled Tchoukuiegno on the inbounds pass. The sophomore guard hit both three throws to reestablish a seven-point margin, 64-57.

Hinckson scored off his own miss to trim the deficit to 64-59 with 14 seconds remaining. The Bearcats once again fouled immediately on UNH's inbounds pass, and this time Martinez made both foul shots for a 66-59 lead.

Bryce Beamer made a 3-pointer with three seconds left to narrow the deficit to 66-62, but the Wildcats quickly advanced the ball upcourt to secure the victory.

A majority of the team stats were close. UNH held the edge in rebounds (40-35), second-chance points (15-5), fastbreak points (10-5) and turnovers (12-13). Binghamton had the advantage in field goal percentage (41.4% to 40.0%), 3-point field goal percentage (33.3% to 29.2%), free throw percentage (85.7% to 64.7%) and points in the paint (30-28).

The Bearcats made one more 3-pointer (8-7) but the Wildcats shot 17 free throws (11 made) in comparison to the visitors seven (six made).

Prior to the game, UNH recognized Guadarrama, Martinez, Mattos and Qon Murphy (Charlotte, N.C.) during the Senior Day ceremony.