ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Jacob Wittig and Patrick Benka scored career high point totals for the University of Rochester on Sunday afternoon as the Yellowjackets outscored NYU, 92-72, in a University Athletic Association men's basketball game at the Louis Alexander Palestra.
Wittig scored 26 points, hitting 9 of 12 from the floor, 1-2 outside the arc, and 7-8 from the foul line. He added five assists and two steals in 31 minutes. It topped his career point high of 21, set at Carnegie Mellon two years ago.
Benka finished with 17 points in 18 minutes off the bench. He hit 7-8 from the floor, 3-3 outside the arc. His previous point high was 13, set three times, including on Friday night in UR's victory over Brandeis University.
Rochester improved its record to 16-8 overall, 7-6 in the UAA. The Yellowjackets were ranked #5 in the East Region by the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Regional advisory committee. The Yellowjackets finish the regular season next Saturday at home against Emory University. Emory is ranked #7 in the D3hoops.com media poll and #1 in the South Region by the NCAA Men's Basketball Regional advisory committee. Rochester is hoping that a victory over Emory will cause the NCAA committee to take a long look at the team as a Pool C (at-large) entry.
NYU lost its fifth straight game to slip to 10-13 overall, 3-10 in the UAA. It's the third straight game tht NYU has given up more than 90 points – 99-72 loss to Washington (MO) on Feb. 11, 96-85 loss at Emory on Feb. 16, and 92-72 loss at Rochester on Sunday. NYU finishes at Brandeis next Saturday.
For Rochester, the 92 points is a season's high – topping the 90 scored in a Jan. 12 win over Case Western Reserve in the Palestra (90-71).
NYU had three players in double figures. Ethan Feldman scored 15 points. Ross Udine had 14 points (4-5 outside the arc) and eight assists before fouling out. Jimmy Martinelli scored 13 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.
Ryan Clamage scored 11 points and handed out a career high eight assists for UR. Andrew Lundstromg scored 11 points and added three assists.
Rochester had 24 assists on 33 baskets. The Yellowjackets took advantage of their opportunities. NYU committed 22 turnovers leading to 39 Rochester points. UR had nine turnovers and NYU scored five points from those.
A layup by Feldman got NYU within 13-12 six minutes in. Rochester scored 10 straight – four by Michael Mangan – to lead, 23-12 with 11:05 left in the half. NYU scored seven in a row, five by Ted Georgiadis, to climb within 23-19. Wittig scored eight points – three layups and two free throws – to key a 14-3 run for a 37-22 lead. It was 50-36 at halftime.
In the second half, the Violets made a couple of mini-run, getting it down to 11 twice – the first time at 69-58 after a Feldman layup climaxed an 8-0 run in less than three minutes.