WALTHAM, Mass – Rochester got its transition offense going on Sunday and posted a 77-64 victory over Brandeis University at the Auerbach Areana. The Yellowjackets scored 25 points after 19 Brandeis turnovers.

The win was Rochester's fifth in a row and seventh in the last eight games. Rochester is 14-4 overall, 6-1 in the University Athletic Association. The Yellowjackets hold a one-game lead over Emory University in the UAA race. Brandeis is 13-4 overall, 3-4 in the UAA.

Nate Novosel scored 16 points, hitting seven of nine from the floor. Chris Dende scored 15 points in 28 minutes off the bench. John DiBartolomeo and Nate Vernon scored 14 apiece. DiBartolomeo added nine assists and three steals. Vernon, in his first career start, grabbed five rebounds, blocked one shot, and made two steals. Mike Labanowski was the fifth Rochester player in double figures. He had 10 points.

Derek Retos scored 15 points in 24 minutes off the bench for Brandeis. He hit three of the eight three-pointers scored by Brandeis. Youri Dascy scored 14 points, grabbed six rebounds, and blocked two shots.

Rochester used an 11-0 run in the first half to take the lead for good and a 9-0 run to close the first half with a 39-25 lead. A three-pointer by Retos put Brandeis up, 17-14, with 11:34 left in the first 20 minutes. Novosel made a layup to start the 11-0 run. He scored four of the 11. Dende scored the other seven.

The Judges crept within five, 30-25, with 3:53 left. DiBartolomeo made two free throws, then hit a three-pointer, and assisted on Dende's layup. Labanowski closed the half and the 9-0 spurt with a pair of free throws with 1:36 left.

Another 9-0 run early in the second half, highlighted by a pair of three-pointers from Vernon, pushed Rochester ahead, 53-32, with less than seven minutes gone in the second half. It countered some hot shooting from Brandeis. The Judges hit 59% from the floor and 75% outside the arc (six of eight).