ROCHESTER, N.Y. – With four men scoring 11 points or more, the University of Rochester defeated Washington University, 77-64, and took sole control of second place in the University Athletic Association. 

The win was Rochester's fifth in a row and its sixth in the last seven games. The Yellowjackets (13-6 overall, 6-2 UAA) are one game behind Emory University (7-1, 14-5 overall) and one game ahead of both the University of Chicago (14-5, 5-3) and New York University (16-3, 5-3). Rochester hosts Chicago at 11 a.m. on Sunday.

Sam Borst-Smith led Rochester with 18 points, 16 in the first half. Jacob Wittig scored 14 points, had four assists, and three steals. Michael Mangan scored 13 points, and Jared Seltzer scored 11.

Kevin Kucera scored 16 points for Washington and added four assists. David Schmeltzer had 14 points, 10 rebounds, and two blocked shots. He hit six of nine from the field. Andrew Sanders scored 11 points. Washington (10-9 overall, 2-6 UAA) plays at Emory on Sunday.

It was 42-40 in favor of Rochester at halftime. Each time the Yellowjackets tried to pull away, the Bears battled back. A layup from Seltzer capped an 11-4 run four minutes into the second half and put Rochester ahead, 55-46.  Jake Knupp scored five points (two free throws and a three-pointer) and Kucera had three points in an 8-1 spurt that cut the deficit to 56-54 with 12:27 left.

Washington got within two points twice in the next four minutes, the last time after two free throws from Schmeltzer (62-60). Mangan fueled a 12-2 Rochester run with seven points – a traditional three-point play, a fast break, and two more free throws. Mack Montague closed the burst with a three-pointer to put the Yellowjakets ahead, 74-62, with 3:31 remaining.