Box Score

DURHAM, N.H. - Despite sophomore Cedric Hankerson earning his first-ever double-double behind a career-high 26 points and 10 rebounds, the Boston University men's basketball team dropped a 75-68 decision at New Hampshire on Tuesday night. With the defeat, the Terriers conclude the season-opening four-game road trip at 1-3, while the Wildcats improve to 2-2.

BU cut a late seven-point deficit to two (63-61) with 2:49 remaining in regulation following a pair of Hankerson free throws but would never get any closer, as Daniel Dion took the game over for UNH. Recording a team-high 23 points, he scored five straight points and answered junior John Papale's trey with a back-breaking 3-pointer of his own at the 36-second mark. He concluded the game scoring the Wildcats' final 12 points of the contest.

Hankerson was one of two Terriers in double figures with a 6-of-13 shooting performance and 10-of-11 mark at the charity stripe. Papale hit three 3-pointers on nine attempts to finish with 16 points, while both junior Justin Alston and sophomore Eric Fanning had eight points apiece.

BU shot 27.6 percent and committed eight turnovers but only trailed, 34-30, at the half by going 10-of-11 (.909) at the line. In the second half, the percentages flipped, as the Terriers shot 47.8 percent from the field and only 12-of-19 (.632) from the charity stripe. They outscored UNH in second-chance points, 17-12, behind a 42-33 advantage in rebounding but could not overcome 15 turnovers.

The Wildcats featured four men in double figures by outscoring BU in points off turnovers, 22-3, and finishing the game 21-of-26 (.808) at the line. Jaleen Smith tallied 15 points, while Jacoby Armstrong recorded 13 of his own. Tanner Leisner posted 12 points and led UNH alongside Matt Miller in rebounds with seven apiece.

After Alston opened the game with a layup, UNH went on a 9-1 run capped by Smith's pair of free throws at 17:15. The Wildcats extended the lead to 12-5 at 15:59 before Hankerson scored the Terriers' next nine points to tie the game at 14-14. Papale then drained a 3-pointer to give BU its largest lead of the game with 12:35 remaining.

UNH responded by scoring six straight points to grab the lead for good. They extended the advantage to eight with 4:04 remaining in the half behind four consecutive made Armstrong free throws. Papale kept BU close by scoring the Terriers' final seven points of the half behind a 3-pointer, two free throws and layup, as the Wildcats entered the locker room ahead 34-30.

Alston opened the second half with a layup, but UNH would not relinquish the lead, building it back to eight (46-38) at 15:41 on Frank Okeke's 3-pointer. The Terriers had a pair of opportunities to tie the game but hurt themselves at the line. Down 51-49 with 11:34 remaining, they missed a 1-and-1 and then two minutes later went 1-of-2 to pull within 51-50. 

Miller and Dion took advantage and followed with back-to-back 3-pointers to move ahead, 57-50, at 7:37. Smith added another 3-point bomb at 5:57 to maintain the seven-point advantage (60-53), but the Terriers did not back down, scoring five straight points with Fanning going 1-of-2 at the line at 4:45.

Hankerson drained two attempts from the charity stripe to put the deficit at two (63-61) for the fifth time in the second stanza, but Dion responded with a 3-point dagger. In the final 2:30, BU missed three 3-point attempts and committed two turnovers.

The Terriers finished the game 19-of-52 (.365), while the Wildcats went 23-of-56 (.411), highlighted by six 3-pointers in the second half.  The meeting marked the earliest match-up in the rivalry's history dating back to 1908-09, as the two squads were previously members together in both the Yankee Conference (1972-76) and the America East (1979-2013).

BU will next host another AE member in UMass Lowell on Sunday (Nov. 30) in the home opener with action slated to begin at 1 p.m.