Great Defensive Effort Lifts NYU Men to Win

More news about: New York University

Behind its best defensive performance in five years, the New York University men's basketball team earned a 72-43 victory at SUNY Maritime in Throggs Neck, NY, on Tuesday, December 6.
 
Despite playing a rare non-tournament back-to-back, the Violets (5-0) held the Privateers (1-7) to just 42 points while forcing 23 turnovers. The 42 points allowed were NYU's fewest since November 27, 2006, when the squad won 56-36 at York College (NY).
 
The Violets' best defensive stretch came at the end of the first half and turned a tight game into a rout. Maritime led 11-8 at the midway point of the period, but NYU held the Privateers to just one field goal and one free throw the rest of the half and no points in the final 5:53.
 
The Violet offense, meanwhile, heated up behind the play of Andy Stein, Carl Yaffe and Devin Karch in the paint. NYU ended the half on a 24-3 run, entering the break with a sizable 32-14 lead.
 
"Holding them to three points in the last 10 minutes of the half was obviously huge," said head coach Joe Nesci. "I thought the defense was really solid and didn't gamble. [Maritime's Mike] McSloy came in averaging about 23 a game and had 36 in his last game, and we held him to seven."
 
The Violets' defense stayed strong in the second half, forcing 12 turnovers and creating numerous easy baskets in transition – including a dunk by Ben Dorman – to keep growing the lead.
 
In addition to playing strong defense in its second game in as many days, NYU also bounced back at the free-throw line after struggling the night before. The Violets shot just 48.1% (13-27) at the stripe on Monday but converted at a clip of 86.7% (13-15) on Tuesday, including making their first 12 attempts.
 
The bench also played a key role for the second night in a row, helping NYU remain unbeaten in 2011-12 and giving Nesci the 408th victory of his career – just one behind the school's all-time record holder, Howard Cann.
 
Stein and Yaffe led all scorers with 15 points apiece while each shooting over 50% from the field. Yaffe added a game-high seven rebounds and Stein had five.
 
Ryan Tana was the Violets' other scorer in double figures, netting a career-high 11 points while draining all three of his three-point attempts. Karch and Kyle Stockmal each scored eight points.
 
Sam Porte led the Privateers with 12 points and five rebounds. Hugh Byrd scored 10 points, while Louie Lewis made three steals.
 
NYU returns to the court next Tuesday, Dec. 13, when it hosts the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts at the Coles Sports Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 pm.