Visiting Brandeis University staged a big second half comeback, edging the University of Rochester men's basketball team 75-72 on Sunday afternoon in a UAA conference matchup at the Louis Alexander Palestra.
Brandeis (13-7, 4-5 UAA) trailed by as many as 20 points early in the second half, but clamped down defensively and made some key buckets down the stretch for victory.
Rochester (9-11, 3-6 UAA), shot lights out in the first half, making 65.5% of its shots, but could only muster 31.5% shooting over the final 20 minutes, leading to the Brandeis come-from-behind win.
During the first half, Brandeis led 12-9 before the Yellowjackets used an extended 22-10 run to surge in front by nine, 31-22 following a Logan Jagodzinski slam dunk. UR made 9-of-13 shots during the spurt, with Andrew Jackson, Ethan McEachern and Mitchell Kershner sinking 3-pointers.
The Judges answered with back-to-back field goals to trim the lead down to five, but Rochester embarked on another big scoring run, 12-2, to extend the lead once again. Jagodzinski paced the second UR run with six points, while Matt Wiele, Josiah Knight and C.J. Amsellem adding buckets.
At the break, Rochester was in front by 14, leading 45-31.
After intermission, the Yellowjackets scored seven of the first eight points to build a game-high 20-point cushion following two free throws from Tomiwa Adetosoye with 17:49 left.
Brandeis started its comeback with back-to-back treys from Ethan Edwards and Quron Zene. After Jackson sank a tough left-handed layup inside, the Judges scored the next nine points to cut the deficit to seven with 12:13 on the clock.
Corvin Oprea scored UR's next five points, helping the 'Jackets regain a double-digit lead, but an 8-1 spurt from Brandeis over the next three minutes saw the lead evaporate. Sam Adusei led the Judges charge, scoring seven of the eight points.
With the Judges in a bit of foul trouble, Rochester was able to build the lead back out to six following five free throws, including three from McEachern. But the Yellowjackets were in the midst of a cold spell from the field in which they did not make a field goal for over six minutes of game time.
Kershner found a cutting Jagodzinski for a backdoor layup with 4:04 left to put Rochester in front once again by six, but Brandeis continued to rally, scoring nine of the next ten points to take the lead following Jake Bender's jumper with 1:16 remaining.
Two Oprea free throws knotted the score at 70-all with under a minute left, but Bender answered at the other end for the Judges to retake the lead as the clock ticked away under 30 seconds.
UR called timeout with 23 seconds left and drew up a play, but were whistled for an offensive foul, turning the ball over before getting a potential game-tying shot off.
Brandeis' Aedan Using made two free throws to build the visitors lead to four, but Wiele quickly drove to the basket and again made it a 2-point span with 11 seconds left.
After an inbounds, Adeusi was fouled and made 1-of-2 from the line, giving the Yellowjackets a chance to draw up a final play hoping for the tie.
Rochester's play worked to get Wiele open from the left wing for a potential game-tying 3-pointer, but the seniors shot attempt just missed, giving the Judges the victory and a season split with the Yellowjackets.
Jagodzinski led UR with 15 points and eight rebounds, making 7-of-12 from the field. Oprea ended with 14 points and six boards off the bench, making all five of his free throw attempts. Wiele added 12 points while Adetosoye finished with nine.
Three starters led the Judges with 15 points each, as Bender, Adusei and Using finished at that number. Quron Zene ended with 11 off the bench.
The Yellowjackets remain in the midst of a four-game homestand and will finish off the home regular season slate next weekend, hosting UChicago and Washington-St. Louis on Friday and Sunday, respectively.