Wildcats Edged 72-68 at Fairfield

Sunday, November 30

Fairfield, Conn.

2 PM

University of New Hampshire

2-6,0-0America East

Fairfield

5-3,0-0MAAC

New Hampshire

Fairfield

Photo by: Lyndsey Levasseur

11/30/2025 5:27:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Junior forward Belal El Shakery (Alexandria, Egypt) recorded 13 points and eight rebounds but the University of New Hampshire men's basketball team was edged 72-68 by Fairfield University at Leo D. Mahoney Arena on Sunday afternoon.

In addition to leading UNH in both scoring and rebounding, El Shakery recorded two steals, two blocks and an assist.

Junior guard Davide Poser (Veneto, Italy) scored 12 points on 4-for-7 shooting from 3-point range. Junior guard Jack Graham (Smithfield, R.I.), sophomore forward John Squire (Sausalito, Calif.) and freshman guard Tyler Bike (Merrimack, N.H.) each scored nine points.

Brandon Benjamin (16 points, 10 rebounds) and Declan Wucherpfennig (12 points, 14 rebounds) both recorded a double-double and Braden Sparks scored a game-high 22 points for the Stags.

UNH is now 2-6 overall and Fairfield is 5-3.

UP NEXT
·     UNH returns to action Dec. 3 (7pm) at Dartmouth College.
·     The Wildcats' next home game is Dec. 6 (7pm) against Boston University.
·     CLICK HERE to buy tickets, including to the Lundholm Loft, or call (603) 862-4000.

FIRST HALF

Fairfield hit three 3-pointers in the first 90 seconds of the game to take an early 9-0 lead.
Trailing 11-4, UNH went on a 9-0 run to take its first lead of the game, 13-11. The run was ignited by a pair of Graham layups and KiJan Robinson (Apopka, Fla.) put the Wildcats in front with a layup at 14:35.
UNH trailed 31-29 before scoring 10 consecutive points to surge ahead, 39-31, at 2:46. Poser's 3-pointer was sandwiched in the middle of the spurt to give the 'Cats a 36-31 lead at 4:42.

New Hampshire scored the last four points of the half on layups by Squire and Robinson to take a 45-35 lead into halftime.

SECOND HALF

The Stags chipped away at the deficit in the first five minutes and regained the lead, 50-49, on a layup by Wucherpfennig at 14:53.
UNH went back in front, 61-59, when Comeh Emuobor (Raleigh, N.C.) made a pair of Squire's layup leveled the score, 63-63, at 6:25 but the Stags inched out to a 69-63 lead in the next two minutes.
El Shakery made one foul shot at 2:51 to lift the 'Cats within 71-68.
UNH had a look a three potential game-tying 3-pointers from 1:30 to 17 seconds before Benjamin hit a free throw to advance the score to 72-68 with 14 seconds remaining.

The Wildcats went for a quick score in the paint but were denied twice, then missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer to end the game.

UNH NOTEBOOK

Poser scored a season-high 12 points. He made three or more 3-pointers for the third consecutive game and fourth time overall this season.
Bike scored a career-high nine points.
Graham matched his career high of six rebounds.
El Shakery matched his personal best of two blocks.
Five Wildcats finished with two assists.

INSIDE THE STATS