CHICAGO – Kevin Sheehy scored a career high 20 points and led four double figure scorers as the University of Rochester defeated the University of Chicago, 68-57, in men's basketball at the Thomas Ratner Athletic Center on Friday night.
Tyler Seidman scored 16 points for Rochester. Tyler Sankes and John DiBartolomeo added 10 apiece. Royce Muskeyvalley scored 18 for Chicago and Charlie Hughes added 11.
Rochester improved to 20-1 overall, 9-1 in the University Athletic Association. It is the 11th time Rochester has won 20 or more in a season and the second time in the last three years. The Yellowjackets maintain a two-game lead in the UAA standings over Brandeis and Washington with four games to play. Rochester plays at Washington on Sunday. Chicago is 10-11 overall, 4-6 in the UAA.
Sankes made back to back layups and had one free throw as part of a 7-0 run midway through the second half that got Rochester back into the game. Chicago led, 45-40, after Jordan Smith's jumper off the right baseline. The 7-0 sprint put Rochester ahead, 47-45, before Chicago tied it 48-48 on Muskeyvalley's layup.
Sheehy made a basket and two free throws ahead of six points from Rob Reid – a hook in the lane, a left side jumper, and two free throws. Rochester slowly stretched its lead to 59-52 on one of two from the line by DiBartolomeo.
The Yellowjackets clinched it making nine of 10 from the line in the last 2:32. Sheehy hit three of four. Seidman, Nate Vernon, and DiBartolomeo all were two for two.
Chicago took advantage of good work on the offensive glass early in the game (the Maroons had 13 offensive boards overall) and built a 14-6 lead with Ian Joyce scoring seven of his nine points. Four different Rochester players scored as the Yellowjackets forced a 14-14 tie midway through the half. Rochester finally nudged ahead, 20-18, on back to back threes by Sheehy.
The lead changed hands five times in the closing minutes of the first half. Seidman's second trey of the game gave Rochester a 26-25 lead before Sam Gage made two layups putting Chicago ahead, 29-26, heading into the locker room.
A jumper in the lane by Joyce and a three-pointer from Hughes on left wing gave Chicago a six-point edge, 42-36, in the early minutes of the second half. After Smith's jumper off the right baseline for a 45-40 lead, Chicago lost its offensive rhythm. Muskeyvalley was the only player to score field goals down the stretch. He made three layups. Nate Brooks had the closing basket, scored in the final seconds.