Smith scores 21, New Hampshire sneaks by UMBC, 84-81

Jan 30, 2016, 03:35 pm

BALTIMORE -- Jaleen Smith had 21 points, six rebounds and four assists, and New Hampshire beat UMBC 84-81 on Saturday.

Jacoby Armstrong finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds and Tanner Leissner and Pat McNamara each had 12 points for New Hampshire (12-9, 5-3 America East), which has won four of its last five. McNamara hit four of the Wildcats' 10 3-pointers.

With the score tied at 75 with 59 seconds left, Leissner hit a 3-pointer and added a free throw one possession later to give the Wildcats a four-point lead. Rodney Elliott made a layup for UMBC (5-18, 1-7) which cut the lead to 79-77, but New Hampshire finished 5 of 6 at the free throw line over the final 30 seconds to put the Retrievers away.

Jairus Lyles scored 26 to lead UMBC and Elliot finished with 17. The Retrievers have lost six straight and eight of nine.