In need of a win to keep pace atop the University Athletic Association (UAA), the New York University men's basketball team got just that, defeating the University of Chicago 79-69 on Friday, January 17, at the Coles Sports Center in Manhattan.
 
The Violets (19-4, 8-4) also got some much-needed help, setting up an enormous showdown on Sunday. First-place Washington University fell 79-69 at Brandeis University, trimming the Bears' lead over NYU to just one game – with the teams set to go head-to-head at noon on Sunday. If NYU wins, it will move into a first-place tie with the Bears, and the Violets will will be in the driver's seat going into next weekend's regular-season finale by virtue of their head-to-head record against Washington. If the Bears win on Sunday, they will clinch the UAA Championship;
 
Four Violets scored in double figures against the Maroons (13-10, 6-6) in a game that was remarkably similar to the first meeting this year between the teams. As he did in the Windy City, Kyle Stockmal again led the way, scoring 20 points on 7-10 shooting – though this time most of his buckets came from inside the three-point line.
 
Stockmal added seven rebounds to his 20 points, while Andy Stein had 13 points and seven boards. Carl Yaffe totaled 12 points, all in the first half, and Ryan Tana finished with 11.
 
The Violets took outstanding care of the basketball, turning it over a season-low-tying six times while scoring 38 points in the paint and shooting 52.8% (28-53) from the field. The squad also had an outstanding night at the free-throw line, shooting a season-high 88.2% (15-17). Defensively, NYU held Chicago to just 38.8% (26-67) from the floor.

With the victory, the Violets earned their first sweep of Chicago since 1994-95.
 
"The guys did a great job of sharing the ball and worked hard at staying with their cuts and screens," said NYU head coach Joe Nesci. "Chicago is very physical, but we stayed strong. We also really made them work on the other end of the floor."
 
The Violets played particularly well defensively in the first half, holding the Maroons to just 29 points to take a 44-29 lead into halftime. The lead swelled to 20 early in the second half when Max Wein made a steal and then converted a fastbreak layup at the other end on a feed from Tana.
 
NYU continued to control play from there, eventually going up 27 on a Stockmal layup with 6:34 remaining. Chicago, however, made it interesting after that, scoring 16 unanswered points – nine of which came from beyond the arc – to pull to within 11 with 2:13 to play.
 
A pair of Stockmal free throws ended the run, however, and the Maroons would not get on the board again until hitting another three-pointer in the final 10 seconds – making the final margin exactly the same as in the first meeting between the teams this season.
 
Stein finished with three of the Violets' eight blocks on the defensive end. Wein, Devin Karch and Cory Stockmal all pitched in with six points apiece, while Wein added six rebounds.
 
Matt Johnson, the UAA's leading scorer, was held to 15 points on 6-14 shooting. Derrick Davis was Chicago's only other player in double figures, netting 11 points and adding six boards. Tommy Sotos chipped in with eight points off the bench.
 
NYU will look to pull even with #24 Washington Sunday at noon. Prior to the game, the Violets will honor their four seniors.