CLEVELAND – Jordan Dean and Dane McLoughlin combined for 13 points in the closing minutes as Case Western Reserve rallied to defeat the University of Rochester, 76-73, in men's basketball at Horsburgh Gymnasium on Friday night.
Dean hit a pair of three-point goals and two foul shots while McLoughlin sank one three-pointer and made two foul shots. Dean finished with 11 points, McLoughlin with seven.
Case won just its second University Athletic Association game of the season (10-13 overall, 2-10 UAA). Rochester is 15-8, 6-6 UAA. The Yellowjackets have not won a UAA road game this season and have lost seven consecutive UAA road games dating back to the season finale last year.
Tom Summers and Austin Fowler scored 15 points apiece for Case. Robert Scott added 13 points. John DiBartolomeo led Rochester with 25 points and five assists. Nate Novosel had 14 points and four blocked shots. Chris Dende scored 13 points, including three three-point goals.
A layup by Nate Vernon and a three-pointer from Dende gave Rochester its largest lead, 60-55, with 8:32 left. Marcus Williams made four free throws in 71 seconds and Rochester led, 66-63, with five minutes remaining. Dean's three-pointer out of the left corner tied the score at 66 with 3:45 to go.
A layup by Novosel and a 12 footer by DiBartolomeo put Rochester back in front, 70-66. McLoughlin's trey from left of the key drew Case within one at 2:28. Dean followed with his three-pointer for a 72-70 lead with 1:15 left and Case led for good.
With Rochester fouling in the last 40 seconds to force foul shot attempts, the Spartans had to inbound just shy of midcourt with 35.4 left. Dende stole the inbounds pass and drove. He missed the layup. Kevin Sheehy rebounded and was fouled in his followup try. Sheehy missed the first free throw and made the second (72-71 Case, 0:32.3).
Two consecutive fouls sent Dean to the line with :30.6 left and he made both ends of a one-and-one. Marcus Williams missed one foul shot for Rochester, then missed the second one intentionally. Rochester earned possession on a jump ball in the scramble for the rebound with :10.6 left.
Dende was fouled on a three-point attempt. He made one shot, missed the second, and made the third (74-73, :05.5). McLoughlin made his two foul shots (one-and-one) with :04.3 on the clock).
Rochester's long pass upcourt was tipped out of bounds by Case with less than three seconds to play. After a timeout, DiBartolomeo's inbounds pass was bobbled and neither team could gain control before the horn sounded.