ROCHESTER, N.Y. – John DiBartolomeo and Nate Vernon combined for 61 points as the University of Rochester defeated Emory University, 89-80, at the Louis Alexander Palestra on Saturday afternoon.
This was the season opener in the University Athletic Association. Rochester is 12-0 overall, 1-0 in the UAA. The Yellowjackets are ranked fourth nationally by D3hoops.com. Emory is 8-3 overall, 0-1 UAA.
DiBartolomeo finished with 34 points, nine assists, five rebounds, and two steals in 35 minutes. Vernon scored a career high 27 points in 34 minutes. He hit 10 of 13 from the floor, three of four outside the arc.
Rochester also got a career best 16 points from Kevin Sheehy in 22 minutes off the bench. Sheehy made four of five floor shots and two of three outside the arc. He was six of six from the foul line, all of it in the second half.
Jake Davis led a balanced Emory attack with 21 points and nine rebounds. Michael Friedberg scored 16 points. McPherson Mooore scored 11, Alex Greven and Josh Schattie had 10 apiece.
Moore, Greven, and Michael Florin sank three-pointers in a 12-0 Emory run midway through the first half that gave the visitors their biggest lead, 23-16, with 8:39 left in the period. Rochester eventually battled back to tie, and took a 47-43 lead at halftime after a layup from Kyle Reardon and DiBartolomeo's 10 footer in the final minute.
DiBartolomeo scored 18 second-half points – four field goals and 10 of 10 from the line. Sheehy had eight second half points, and Vernon scored 10. Rochester earned its first double-digit lead on two free throws by DiBartolomeo with 5:00 left in the game (73-63). The lead stretched to 14 after two Sheehy free throws with 57 seconds remaining.
Rochester extended two homecourt winning streaks with the victory. The Yellowjackets have won 30 consecutive regular-season home games, dating back to 2010-11. This was also Rochester's 17th straight UAA win at the Palestra, a string that began in 2009-10.
DiBartolomeo moved into sixth place on Rochester's career scoring list with 1,453 points. He passed Jack Herlan (1974-77) who scored 1,446 points. There were seven unbeaten Division III teams through games of Thursday evening.