DURHAM, N.H. — In a thrilling finish, Sami Pissis led the New Hampshire Wildcats with a total of 27 points, while Anthony McComb III sunk a crucial 3-pointer with just 8.3 seconds remaining, securing a narrow 79-78 win over the UMBC Retrievers on Thursday night.

Although Pissis struggled with his shooting, connecting on only 7 of 21 attempts from the field and 2 of 13 from beyond the arc, he was efficient at the line, making 11 of 14 free throws. Khalil Badru supported the offense with 21 points and five rebounds. McComb finished with 18 points, having made 7 of 16 shooting overall and hitting 3 of 7 from three-point territory.

The Retrievers initially pulled ahead with a lead of 75-64 after Ace Valentine converted two free throws with four minutes left in the game. However, New Hampshire rallied impressively, closing the match with a remarkable 15-3 scoring run to clinch the victory.

For UMBC, Marcus Banks was the standout performer, scoring an impressive 30 points. Regimantas Ciunys contributed 14 points to the team’s efforts, while Marlon Short added nine points and three steals.

Looking ahead, both teams will see action again on Saturday. New Hampshire is set to welcome NJIT, while UMBC will hit the road to face Maine.