McGuire, Chenery pace Bobcats to win over New Hampshire

Photo%3A+QBSN

Photo: QBSN

Jack Main

In a year that has been anything but conventional, an unconventional win seems rather fitting for the Quinnipiac men’s basketball team.

The Bobcats took down the University of New Hampshire, 64-56, in a Sunday matinee at the Peoples United Center, but the win came with some glaring blemishes for Baker Dunleavy’s squad.

Quinnipiac set a season-high in total turnovers with 20, with 13 of them coming in the first half. They also committed over 20 fouls for the third time this season. The Bobcats were fortunate to only allow ten points off turnovers and rode five blocks from Seth Pinkney defensively.

But the standout in the game for Quinnipiac was first-year guard-forward combo Tymu Chenery, who got his first career start in the win. The two-star recruit showed he belonged in the starting lineup by contributing season highs in points (16) and blocks (3), going 6-11 from the field, including 3-5 from three-point land.

“I just try to play hard,” Chenery said. “I don’t come into the game to try to score, I just try to play hard, and I think that’s what helps me. This game gave me a lot of confidence.”

Sophomore forward Brendan McGuire also had a career day, shooting a perfect 5-5 from the field, including 3-3 from deep.

He paced the team with 17 points in total, a career-high. He tallied season highs in all offensive categories except total field goal attempts, including rebounds (4). Baker Dunleavy spoke very highly of the young hybrid player following the game.

“He really got better (this offseason). He found ways to improve, certainly as a shooter but in other areas as well,” Dunleavy said. “Obviously limiting his turnovers… but becoming the best defender he can be, so if those things can continue to develop, I think he can be a great player in our league and help our program win games.”

Senior Jacob Rigoni had a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double, and despite turning the ball over five times, Savion Lewis co-led the team with four assists and pulled down six rebounds.

Barring any more schedule changes, Quinnipiac is set to open up MAAC play this week in a high-profile matchup with legendary coach Rick Pitino and the Iona Gales.

Dunleavy said it is an honor to share the sideline with the 2013 National Champion, but once the game gets underway, it’s business as usual.

“It’s hard to really describe as a relatively new head coach, the honor and the humility I have in sharing the sideline with someone like Coach Pitino,” Dunleavy said.

“He is a guy that I think his whole career has been way ahead of the curve in terms of player evaluation, player development and also playing style. I love the idea of [playing against him] until that ball is tipped and then all of a sudden we have to try and beat him.”