New Hampshire win First-Ever Postseason Game
Wildcats win 20th game most since program began in 1903
FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Junior Jaleen Smith (Freeport, Texas) hit 19 of 22 points in the second half to lead the
University of New Hampshire men's basketball team to a 77-62 win over Fairfield University for the
program's first-ever 20th win in a season in the opening round of the CollegeInsider.com Postseason
Tournament, Wednesday night at Alumni Hall.
New Hampshire (20-12) earned its first win over Fairfield, its first win in the postseason and its 20th win
this season, a new program record. The program began in 1903.
HIGHLIGHTS
Smith drilled 13 of 14 free throws in the second half for a new career-high.
Junior Daniel Dion (Cedar Park, Texas) matched a career-high in threes with five, en route to 15 points
Sophomore Tanner Leissner (Converse, Texas) scored 15 points (7 of 13) and grabbed eight rebounds.
Sophomore Iba Camara (Dakar, Senegal) recorded his 14th 10+-rebound game with 11 boards.
Junior Jacoby Armstrong (Sachse, Texas) scored 10 points and was one rebound shy of his third doubledouble of the season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Fairfield held a 41-24 deficit at the break before making a run in the second half for a chance. The Stags
reduced the Wildcat lead to nine, 47-38, with 11:27 to play on a Tyler Nelson 3-pointer, three of his 16
second-half points. UNH pushed its lead back to 14 on a Smith lay-in with 8:30 remaining but Nelson and
Marcus Gilbert scored four and three points, respectively. That was the closest Fairfield came to evening
the score the remainder of the game.
New Hampshire came out shooting in the first half, connecting on 15 of 29 shots including 8 of 14 from
beyond the arc. Dion hit 4 of 5 attempts in the first half.
The Wildcats jumped out to a 6-0 lead on two Leissner buckets and a Jordan jumper. Smith drilled a 3-
pointer with 15:00 to play in the first to increase the UNH lead to 10, 16-6. There was no scoring for 2:26
before Armstrong connected on a baseline jumper for two more points.
One of Dion's four threes fell with five minutes to play to take the largest Wildcat lead in the opening
half, 38-17. The scoring ended for New Hampshire after a Jordan 3-pointer as Jerry Johnson drilled a
three and Coleman Johnson finished in the paint to head into the break with a 41-24 deficit.