ROCHESTER, N.Y. – John DiBartolomeo scored 27 points and handed out eight assists as the University of Rochester defeated 25th-ranked Washington University, 94-84, at the Louis Alexander Palestra.
He led five Rochester men in double figures. Nate Vernon scored 19 points and hit five three-poitners. Nate Novosel and Kevin Sheehy had 11 points apiece. Rob Reid scored 10 points and made four steals. Rochester is 12-7 overall, 3-5 in the University Athletic Association.
Dylan Richter and Chris Klimek scored 20 points apiece for Washington. The Bears are 14-5 overall, 6-2 in the UAA. Washington is tied for first place with NYU. Emory and Brandeis are one game back at 5-3. Washington plays at Emory on Sunday. Rochester hosts 4-4 Chicago.
The Yellowjackets won their 12th straight home UAA game dating back to the end of the 2009-10 season. Rochester is 8-0 at home this season and has won 16 regular-season home games going back to last year.
Rochester shot 53% from the floor in the first half, 64% outside the arc (9 of 14). Vernon and Sheehy had three treys apiece in the first period. Tyler Seidman sank a three-pointer to ignite a 14-0 run over 3:42 to build a 27-16 lead with 7:53 left in the first half. Four players hit treys – Seidman, Vernon, Sheehy, and DiBartolomeo and Reid sank a layup. It was 45-34 at the half.
The Yellowjacket lead ballooned to 20 in the second half after two free throws by Marcus Williams (66-46 at 13:05). Two more free throws by Williams made it 80-65 with 7:19 to go. Richter sank a pair of threes to key a 10-2 burst that got Washington within 82-75 with 4:00 left. Ben Hoener's layup in the final minute cut it to six, but DiBartolomeo, Vernon, and Sheehy all made two free throws apiece to nail down the win.
Richter became Washington's 20th 1,000-point scorer on a three-pointer with 1:15 left. That brought Washington within 88-80.