McComb III Stuns UMBC With Three-Pointer in Final Seconds

Thursday, February 6

Durham, N.H.

7 PM

University of New Hampshire

5-19,3-6America East

University of Maryland Baltimore County

11-13,3-6America East

UMBC

New Hampshire

2/6/2025 10:52:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

Badru Tallies Career High 21 Points

DURHAM, N.H.  – The University of New Hampshire men's basketball team defeated UMBC, 79-78, Thursday night at Lundholm Gymnasium.

Junior guard Sami Pissis (Paris, France) recorded 27 points, freshman guard Khalil Badru (New Britain, Conn.) recorded a career-high 21 points, and junior guard Anthony McComb III (Dayton, Ohio) tallied 18 points, including the game-winning three-pointer with fewer than 10 seconds remaining.

The Wildcats improve to 5-19 (3-6 AE). 

Score:  UNH 79, UMBC 78
Records:  UNH (5-19, 3-6 AE), UMBC (11-13, 3-6 AE)
Location: Durham, N.H. (Lundholm Gymnasium)
Date: Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025

First Half

Pissis got fouled beyond the arch on the first shot of the game, giving him three free throws to put UNH up 3-0.
A three-pointer from sophomore forward Davide Poser (Veneto, Italy) kept the 'Cats in the lead at 9-8. But the Retrievers surged ahead, going up by 16 points 10 minutes into the half (33-17).
Another Poser three-ball sparked 12 unanswered points by UNH to trim the deficit to four points.
- Three-pointers from Poser, Pissis, and sophomore forward Dylan Saunders (Roanoke, Va.).
The Wildcats took the lead with just over six minutes remaining with a Badru layup. The score flip-flopped for the rest of the first half until UMBC went up 45-39.

Second Half

The Retrievers started the second half on a 15-5 run (60-44). They maintained a double-digit lead until 7:18 in the second half when McComb III knocked down a mid-range jumper to thin the score to 71-62.
An 8-4 run put the 'Cats down 75-70 with 1:41 left in the game. A costly UMBC turnover gave UNH an opportunity to make a splash as the clock dwindled. McComb III dropped in two free throws to thin the deficit to two points.
UMBC responded with two free throws of their own. Putting the 'Cats down five with 35 seconds left. Pissis converted an "and-one" with 20 seconds remaining, and the Wildcats forced another turnover to give UNH a chance to tie or win the game.
McComb caught a pin balling rebound in the corner and faded away to swish a game-winning three-pointer.

Up Next

The Wildcats return to action on Saturday, Feb. 8 for Alumni Day! (Alumni get access to a special pregame alumni lunch at 11:30 AM in the Academic Center at the Field House. SIGN UP HERE: https://tinyurl.com/3pn437um). UNH will then play host to NJIT at 1 p.m. (ESPN+).