LEE, N.H. (Interstat) — In a game defined by contrasting styles and a decisive second-half surge, the New Hampshire Wildcats overcame a halftime deadlock to defeat the Albany Great Danes 80-72 in an America East Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at Lundholm Gym.

The Wildcats, who entered the game with identical 6-12 records, used a blistering perimeter attack to pull away after the break. The two teams were knotted at 30 at halftime, but New Hampshire erupted for 50 second-half points, fueled by relentless three-point shooting and capitalizing on Albany’s mistakes.

The most critical phase of the game unfolded in the latter stages of the second half. With Albany clinging to a narrow deficit, New Hampshire’s offensive execution and Albany’s untimely turnovers created separation. Leading 63-60 with under six minutes to play, the Wildcats embarked on a game-sealing 11-2 run. The spurt was highlighted by a trio of three-pointers, two from Jack Graham and one from Davide Poser, that stretched the lead to 74-62 with 3:38 remaining. Albany committed three turnovers during that pivotal stretch, which New Hampshire efficiently converted into six points.

New Hampshire’s victory was built on the long ball. The Wildcats shot 15 for 35 from three-point range, a 42.9% clip that starkly outshone Albany’s 4-for-14 performance. That 33-point disparity from beyond the arc proved insurmountable for the Great Danes, who otherwise shot efficiently from the field and dominated inside, scoring 42 points in the paint to New Hampshire’s 20.

Kijan Robinson led the Wildcats with 17 points, while Jack Graham added 15, all from three-point range. Davide Poser orchestrated the offense with a game-high six assists to go with 12 points. Comeh Emuobor provided a crucial spark off the bench with 13 points, and Belal El Shakery chipped in 10.

Albany was carried by the backcourt duo of Amir Lindsey and Miles Rose. Lindsey played 40 minutes, scoring 16 points and grabbing six rebounds. Rose was the game’s high scorer with 20 points on 8-of-14 shooting. Isaac Abidde contributed 12 points for the Great Danes.

Despite the loss, Albany was the more efficient team from two-point range and the free-throw line, making 18 of 23 attempts. However, New Hampshire’s superior ball security and ability to turn defense into offense were decisive. The Wildcats committed 10 turnovers to Albany’s 13 and converted those Albany miscues into 18 points, while the Great Danes managed only seven points off turnovers.

The game began with Albany establishing an early inside presence, but New Hampshire’s three-point shooting kept pace. The first half featured seven ties and neither team led by more than five points. The Wildcats’ offensive rating of 122.9 for the game, compared to Albany’s 109.2, underscored their superior scoring efficiency per possession, particularly in the decisive final 20 minutes.

With the win, New Hampshire improves to 7-12 overall. Albany falls to 7-14. Both teams return to conference play on Thursday, with New Hampshire hosting Massachusetts-Lowell and Albany welcoming NJIT.