DURHAM, N.H. – Despite five players scoring in double figures, the Boston University men’s basketball team fell short in overtime at New Hampshire, 88-82, on Saturday night.

The Terriers (4-6) nearly doubled the Wildcats (3-7) in made 3-pointers, 13-7, but UNH posted a 52-26 advantage in points in the paint to pull out the come-from-behind victory. Neither team performed well at the charity stripe, hitting 15 free throws apiece on a combined 56 attempts (.536) with BU hurting its cause shooting 5-for-13 during the final five minutes of regulation.

Junior Michael McNair continued his hot-shooting behind the arc with four 3-pointers on six attempts en route to a game-high 21 points alongside a team-high eight rebounds, while freshman Sam Hughes went 5-for-10 for 15 points. Sophomore Azmar Abdullah (12 pts.), freshman Donte Tisinger Jr. (11 pts.) and senior Ben Roy (10 pts.) also scored in double figures.

For the Wildcats, KiJan Robinson also had four 3-pointers on his way to 21 points, while Belal El Shakery earned a double-double with 18 points and 14 rebounds. Jack Graham tallied 13 points, and R.J. Kennedy added 12 points.

HOW IT HAPPENED


After UNH jumped out to a 13-3 lead with 14:17 left in the first half, McNair and Hughes hit back-to-back 3-pointers to pull within four at 13:16.
Facing a 25-18 deficit, McNair struck again to spark a 15-2 run capped by Roy’s jumper with 4:05 left in the half to give BU a lead that would last until the final minute of regulation.
Hughes struck again from behind the arc with 48 seconds left, and UNH hit a free throw to cut BU’s lead to 38-33 entering the locker room.
In the second half, BU continued its hot shooting with four 3-pointers and saw the lead rise to 65-40 at 10:42 when Abdullah converted on his steal with a layup.
Abdullah hit a jumper with 4:44 left to lead, 70-51, at which point UNH began the comeback with Robinson draining a 3-pointer to spark a 23-4 run.
Over the next two minutes, UNH cut the deficit to 71-60, and Robinson later add a 3-pointer following a shot clock violation to pull within seven, 72-65, at 49 seconds.
The Terriers missed two free throws on their next two possessions, and UNH used a layup and 3-pointer pull within two, 72-70, with 28 seconds remaining.
BU beat the press but lost the ball under their hoop, and UNH drew a foul while shooting a 3-pointer.
After the Wildcats managed to hit 1-of-3 free throws, McNair hit two at the line for a 74-71 lead.
With 4.1 seconds remaining though, Robinson beat the buzzer with a contested 3-pointer to send the game to OT.
BU started the extra session with a layup but quickly lost the lead and finished 2-for-7 in OT from the field, while the Wildcats were a perfect 4-for-4 in the paint and 6-for-8 at the line to pull away.

UP NEXT


BU will host former America East rival in Maine on Wednesday (Dec. 10) at 7 p.m.
BU leads the all-time series, 62-42, that dates back to 1903.
Since leaving the AE in the summer of 2013, BU is 3-1 following last year’s 59-56 road win and 74-65 home loss in 2023.