New Hampshire defeats Stonehill 59-58
New Hampshire Edges Out Stonehill in Thrilling 59-58 Victory
In a game that will be remembered for its back-and-forth intensity, the New Hampshire Wildcats emerged victorious over visiting Stonehill, claiming a hard-fought 59-58 win at Lundholm Gymnasium on Thursday night.
The difference between the two teams was often razor-thin, with New Hampshire holding leads of as few as six points. However, it was ultimately the home team's ability to contain Ridvan Tutic, Stonehill's star scorer, that proved decisive. Tutic, who finished with 21 points, shot a blistering 76.9% from the field, but his hot streak was tempered by New Hampshire's stout defense.
Comeh Emuobor led the way for New Hampshire, pouring in 12 points and grabbing 10 rebounds to pace his team's effort. Tyler Bike chipped in with four assists and six points off the bench, while also contributing five steals.
For Stonehill, Raymond Espinal-Guzman was a bright spot on the defensive end, snatching six rebounds and adding three points to go along with his assist total. However, despite his efforts, the Seahawks struggled to contain Tutic, who outscored them 21-18 in the second half.
The game's largest lead came at halftime, when New Hampshire led 36-32. From there, both teams engaged in a frenetic back-and-forth that saw each side trade baskets and turnovers throughout the second half.
In the end, it was New Hampshire's discipline on defense that won out, holding Stonehill to just three made field goals over the final 4:30 of play. The Wildcats capitalized on those opportunities, scoring six straight points to take a one-point lead with just seconds remaining.
When the buzzer sounded, New Hampshire had claimed its first win of the season, sending the Lundholm Gymnasium crowd into raptures. For Stonehill, it was a tough pill to swallow, especially after coming so close to pulling off an upset.
The loss drops Stonehill to 0-1 on the season, while New Hampshire improves to 1-0. With several key non-conference games still on the horizon, both teams will look to build momentum and get back in the win column.