El Shakery Records 18 Points, 13 Rebounds in 75-74 Loss at UMBC

Saturday, January 10

Baltimore, Md.

1 PM

University of New Hampshire

4-12,0-3America East

UMBC

9-6,2-0America East

New Hampshire

UMBC

Photo by: Gil Talbot

El Shakery Records 18 Points, 13 Rebounds in 75-74 Loss at UMBC

1/10/2026 6:12:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

BALTIMORE – Junior forward Belal El Shakery (Alexandria, Egypt) recorded a double-double of 18 points and 13 rebounds but the University of New Hampshire men's basketball team was edged 75-54 by UMBC at the Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena on Saturday.

El Shakery gave UNH a 74-73 lead on a layup with seven seconds remaining, but DJ Armstrong made two free throws with 0.9 on the clock to lift the Retrievers to victory.

El Shakery also matched his career high with a team-leading four assists. Sophomore forward John Squire (Sausolito, Calif.) finished with a career-high 13 points and five rebounds and KiJan Robinson (Apopka, Fla.) scored 11 points.

Armstrong paced the Retrievers with 17 points, including the game-tying and game-winning free throws. Jah'Likai King (15), Ace Valentine (12) and Caden Diggs (10) also scored in double digits.

UNH moves to 4-12 overall and 0-3 in America East while UMBC is now 9-6, 2-0.

UP NEXT

UNH returns to action Jan. 19 (2pm) at the University of Mine for a Buffalo Wild Wings Border Battle.
The Wildcats' next home game Jan. 22 (6pm) against Binghamton University.
CLICK HERE to buy tickets online or call (603) 862-4000.

FIRST HALF

UNH inched out to a 9-4 lead when Davide Poser (Veneto, Italy) made a driving layup at 17:33.
The Retrievers tied the score at 11 and 14 before the Wildcats scored seven consecutive points on a Jack Graham (Smithfield, R.I.) 3-pointer at 11:18, pair of El Shakery foul shots at 9:32 and a reverse dunk by El Shakery at 8:33 to build a 21-14 lead.
UNH extended the lead to double digits, 30-19, when Jon O'Neill (Kaukauna, Wis.) made a layup at 5:05.
UMBC went on a 9-0 run to close within 30-28 at 2:44.
The 'Cats closed the half on a 9-2 spurt capped by a Tyler Bike (Merrimac, N.H.) 3-pointer at the buzzer to take a 39-30 lead into halftime.

SECOND HALF

Layups by Squire once again established double-digit leads of 41-30 and 43-32 in the opening minute of the second half.
The margin was whittled down to four points, 44-40, at 16:52, and the Retrievers leveled the score, 49-49, at 12:52.
With UNH trailing 55-52, back-to-back baskets by Squire put the Wildcats back on top, 56-55, midway through the second half.
There were seven tie scores the next eight minutes, and that included 71-71 with a minute remaining.
El Shakery's free throw gave the 'Cats a 72-71 lead with 54 seconds to play.
UMBC went back in front, 73-72, when Diggs made a pair of foul shots with 33 seconds remaining.
Robinson drove down the middle of the lane, found El Shakery on the left blocks and he finished over a defender to give UNH a 74-73 lead with seven seconds left.
UMBC called a timeout with four seconds to play, then the Wildcats were whistled for a foul with 0.9 seconds on the clock and Armstrong made both free throws to put the Retrievers back ahead, 75-74.

UNH's long inbounds pass was not controlled and the final buzzer sounded to end the game.

UNH NOTEBOOK

This was El Shakery's fourth double-double of the season. It also marked his fourth game of the season with 10+ rebounds.
El Shakery finished one short of his personal best in both points (19) and rebounds (14).
Squire was a highly efficient 6 of 7 (85.7%) from the floor.

GAME NOTEBOOK

There were seven lead changes and 11 ties in the second half and that included four ties and three lead changes in the last two minutes.
Overall, there were 10 lead changes and 14 tie scores.
UNH committed only 10 turnovers, but UMBC had a paltry four.
New Hampshire had a 46-38 scoring advantage in the paint.
The Wildcats also had a 12-2 edge in second chance points with an 11-3 differential in offensive rebounds.
UMBC finished with a 14-2 scoring edge in fastbreak points.
UNH made 5 of 11 free throws in comparison to UMBC's 13-for-16 at the foul line.