NEW YORK – Even though they were playing in a foreign gym for the first time ever, the #5 University of Rochester men's basketball team felt right at home with plenty of friends, family and alums in attendance at Friday nights University Athletic Association game against New York University being played at Hunter College.
The Yellowjackets gave the crowd a show, hitting the century mark for the second time this season in a 101-58 win over NYU at the Hunter Sportsplex. Friday's game was being played at Hunter because NYU's athletic facilities at the Coles Sports Center in Manhattan are currently under renovation.
All in all, 14 different Yellowjackets recorded a point as Rochester (18-1, 7-1 UAA) won its fifth straight game and second in a week over the Violets (6-12, 1-7 UAA).
Rochester shot extremely well in this one, making 58% of its shots from the floor (36-62) while making an equally impressive 55% of its 3-point attempts (12-22). NYU struggled to find its stroke, making just 34% from the floor and 31% from beyond the arc.
The Yellowjackets scored early and often, eventually using a big 16-0 run to blow open a four-point lead midway through the first half. This was the second straight game that UR embarked on a 16-0 run, as the 'Jackets used a similar run in the second half last Sunday in a victory against Brandeis.
Four of the five starters eclipsed the 10-point mark for Rochester, with senior Sam Borst-Smith leading the way with 18 points on 7-11 shooting while also draining four 3-pointers. He added seven rebounds and five assists. Sophomore Jacob Wittig scored 15 points, the fifth time in six games he has scored in double-figures, also adding seven assists.
Joining them in double-digit scoring were seniors Mack Montague and Zack Ayers who each scored 14 points. Montague added four 3-pointers and four rebounds while Ayers pulled down a team high nine rebounds. The fifth starter, Tucker Knox just missed a 10-point game, finishing with eight points and seven rebounds, four of which came on the offensive glass.
Sophomore Ryan Clamage added eight points (4-4 FG) off the bench while Michael Mangan chipped in six points and four rebounds. Alexander Gamble scored five for UR.
NYU was paced by Ross Udine who scored 15 points and had four assists. Doug Gertner had 11 points for the Violets while Ted Georgiadis added eight points.
Rochester continues its four-game road trip on Sunday with a tilt at Brandeis University with tip-off set for 12 pm from Waltham, Mass.