Defense powers men's basketball to victory over UNH

Wednesday, December 21

Providence, R.I.

7:00 p.m.

Brown University

7-5,0-0Ivy League

New Hampshire

5-7,0-0America East

New Hampshire

Brown

Defense powers men's basketball to victory over UNH

12/21/2022 10:04:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Brown men's basketball team led for all but 13 seconds in a 67-51 win over New Hampshire Wednesday night at the Pizzitola Sports Center. The Bears' defense held the Wildcats to 30.8% shooting on the night while Brown grabbed a season-high 45 rebounds to power past the visitors.

"I thought we played really hard and really well for most of the game," head coach Mike Martin '04 said. "Offensively it took us a little bit of time to get into a rhythm, but defensively we were terrific all game. Physically, I was really concerned about [Clarence] Daniels, he can play almost anywhere in the country, but all the guys that guarded him did a great job on him.

"It was a really good team defensive effort."

Nana Owusu-Anane had 16 points and five rebounds, while Kino Lilly Jr. contributed 15, three assists and two steals to lead the Bears to victory. Kalu Anya had seven points and nine boards and was tied with Paxson Wojcik with a game-high four assists. Aaron Cooley, with his seven points and six rebounds, was a game-high +23 on the night.

Brown's defense was smothering from the start, forcing UNH to open the game 0-for-13 from the field. Despite the Bears' early lead, the Wildcats took their only lead of the night, 8-7 at the 9:40 mark of the first. A three by Kimo Ferrari put the Bears back in front on the very next possession, where they would stay for good.

The Bears stretched their lead to as many as 12 in the first half, but would go into the break up nine at 28-19. The 19 first-half points allowed were a season-low for Brown's defense.

Brown kept the pressure on in the second half, never letting the Wildcats get back within single digits and pushing its lead to as many as 25 following a stretch of seven straight points by Lilly.

Up 11 with 11:33 to play, the Bears put the game away with a 13-0 run that included two threes from Perry Cowan. The run put Brown up 60-36 with 7:10 to play. From there, the result was never in doubt.

The win was the fifth time this season that the Bears have limited their opponents to under 60 points and was the fourth such game over the previous six.

Brown will finish play in 2022 with another Big Ten matchup, this time at Northwestern on Thursday, Dec. 29 at 12 p.m. CT.

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