ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Sam Borst-Smith scored a game-high 23 points, including five three-point field goals, to lead the University of Rochester to its seventh straight victory, this one a 71-54 triumph over Brandeis University at the Louis Alexander Palestra on Friday evening. 

Tucker Knox scored 10 points and grabbed seven rebounds for Rochester. Michael Mangan and Jared Seltzer had nine points each. Zack Ayers scored seven points, grabbed six rebounds, and blocked three shots.

Jordan Cooper led Brandeis with 20 points. Robinson Vilmont scored 12. Each of them hit three three-point field goals.

Rochester improved to 15-6 overall, 8-2 in the University Athletic Association. The Yellowjackets are tied for first place with Emory University. NYU is one game back at 7-3. NYU defeated Emory in Atlanta, 73-56, on Friday and comes to the Palestra on Sunday at noon.

Borst-Smith scored 11 of his points in the closing minutes of the first half as Rochester took the lead for good with a 14-4 run. He hit three three-pointers in the run and sank two free throws. The spurt gave the Yellowjackets a 35-25 lead at the break.

Brandeis used a flurry of three-pointers – two from Vilmont and one by Jack Fay early in the second half to pull within 38-36 with more than 15 minutes remaining. The Judges stayed within four points over the next three minutes, the last time on two free throws by John Powell, making the score 43-39.

Seltzer and Jeff Wittig hit mid-range jumpers to stretch the lead to 10. Cooper made one free throw for Brandeis but Wittig answered with a layup and a 51-40 lead.  Cooper knocked down a three-point to beat the shot clock (51-43) by two free throws from Borst-Smith and a trey by Seltzer restored the edge to 56-43.