College Basketball

Leissner's 31 points lift New Hampshire past Detroit Mercy

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 4:36 p.m. ET

foxsports

DURHAM, N.H. (AP) Tanner Leissner scored 18 of his career-high 31 points in the second half and Jaleen Smith had a double-double to lead New Hampshire to an 86-70 win over Detroit Mercy on Wednesday.

Detroit Mercy trailed by 11 midway through the first half and closed within 33-30 on a DeShawndre Black jumper at the 3:19 mark before Leissner's 3-pointer gave the Wildcats a 44-36 lead at the half.

New Hampshire quickly pushed its advantage to 13 in the second half before the Titans got within seven. Then Smith hit a 3 and followed Leissner's layup with a jumper to make the difference 56-42 with 14:38 to go and Detroit Mercy never got it inside 10 again.

Smith had 20 points and 11 rebounds and Daniel Dion had 14 points for the Wildcats (3-2), who shot 56.5 in the second half despite making just 1 of 7 behind the arc.

Jaleel Hogan had 18 points, Black 14 and Josh McFolley 13 for the Titans (1-4).