UNH's Jayden Martinez puts up two of his career-high 23 points in the Wildcats' win at UMaine on Sunday. (Courtesy photo by Tyler Neville/UMaine Athletics)

ORONO, Maine – Junior forward Jayden Martinez (Cibolo, Texas) led the Wildcats with a career-high 23 points as the University of New Hampshire men’s basketball team defeated Maine, 62-58, Sunday afternoon at Memorial Gym. With the win, the Wildcats improve to 4-3 overall (3-1 America East), while the Black Bears fall to 1-4 overall (1-3 America East).

Junior guard Qon Murphy (Charlotte, N.C.) tallied a season-high 11 points. UNH made a season-best 20 free throws and went to the line a season-high 20 times. The Wildcats’ nine turnovers were a season low.

UNH grabbed 30 rebounds and shot 41.7 percent from the field, while the Black Bears posted 33 rebounds and shot 43.8 percent. UNH outscored Maine, 32-22 in the paint.

Maine was led by Ja’Shonté Wright-McLeish who scored 12 points.

The Wildcats used a 28-17 second half run to go up 60-46.But with 4:09 remaining in the second half, Maine started a 12-0 run which was capped off by a 3-pointer by Wright-McLeish to cut the UNH lead to 60-58 with just 17 seconds left.

But a made free throw by Martinez with 13 seconds remaining and one by junior guard Marque Maultsby (Raleigh, N.C.) with one second on the clock gave the Wildcats the win.

The Wildcats return to action this Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 9-10, when they take on UMBC at Lundholm Gymnasium at noon.

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