BROCKPORT, N.Y. – Junior guard John DiBartolomeo scored seven straight points in 72 seconds to open the second half as the University of Rochester rallied past SUNY Geneseo, 72-60, in the quarterfinals of the Wendy's College Classic at SUNY Brockport.

The win puts Rochester into the semifinals on Friday night at RIT against either Nazareth College or RIT. Nazareth defeated Rochester, 82-64, earlier this season.

DiBartolomeo finished with a season's high 25 points. He hit nine of 14 from the field, one of three outside the arc, and all six free throw attempts. He added five rebounds, four assists, and five steals.

Chris Dende scored 14 points for UR (5-1) and Nate Vernon scored 13. Dende hit three treys and Vernon made two. They scored two apiece in a late-game 15-0 run that put Rochester ahead, 67-49, after Geneseo had drawn within 52-49 with 8:39 left.

Jordan Jones scored 25 points for Geneseo (0-4). Abe Miller added 12 points and six rebounds. The Blue Knights will play the loser of the Nazareth-RIT game in the consolation at St. John Fisher on Friday night. 

Neither team could grab control in the first half. Rochester ran off a 10-2 spurt for a 22-17 lead, only to see Geneseo answer with a 9-3 run to take a 26-25 edge. Jones hit a three-pointer for the Knights in the closing seconds of the first period and Dende's short jumper got Rochester within one, 34-33, at the half.

DiBartolomeo hit a jumper in the lane, sank a long three-pointer from right wing, and drove for a layup in the first 1:12 of the second half. It put Rochester ahead, 40-34. After a three-point play by Jones, DiBartolomeo made two free throws and Dende sank a trey from the right corner to stretch the lead to 45-37.

Ryan Riefenhauser scored four points and Jones added six more as part of an extended 12-6 run by the Knights that closed the gap to 52-49 with 8:39 left.

Vernon and Dende hit back-to-back three-pointers out of the left corner to start the 15-0 run that put Rochester in control, 67-49, with 4:26 left. The Knights did get it down to 68-60, helped in part by five points from Andy Drescher. Vernon and DiBartolomeo made four free throws in the last 30 seconds to close out the win.