ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Eric D'Aguanno hit three of his six three-point field goals in less than three minutes to fuel a game-turning turn that sent Brandeis University to a 75-69 victory over the University of Rochester at the Louis Alexander Palestra on Sunday afternoon.
D'Aguanno scored 21 points in 24 minutes off the bench, hitting 6 of 9 outside the arc, 7 of 11 overall. He added six rebounds, one block, one steal, and two assists. Collin Sawyer led Brandeis with 23 points and Corey Sherman scored 10. Brandeis shot 52% from the floor, 26-50, hitting 13 of 25 in each half. The Judges made 13 of 28 three-point shots. Brandeis is 11-7 overall, 4-3 in the University Athletic Association.
Ryan Clamage scored 21 points for Rochester. Andrew Lundstrom had 14 points. Jacob Wittig scored 12 with eight assists, and Patrick Benka scored 10. Rochester led, 39-36, at halftime thanks to 56% shooting. The Yellowjackets tailed off in the second half, making 11 of 29 from the floor (38%), 2 of 9 outside the arc.
Sawyer and D'Aguanno were the instigators of the clutch 21-7 scoring run over nine and a half minutes in the second half. Rochester led, 50-43, with 14:43 to play. Sawyer sank four free throws to get the spurt going. D'Aguanno hit three straight treys for Brandeis. His first gave Brandeis is first lead at 52-50. His second put the judges up, 55-52, and his third was a four-point play. He sank a triple from right wing, was fouled by Wittig, and added the free throw, for a 59-54 edge with eight minutes left.
After Clamage hit a three for Rochester, Latye Workman hit a short jumper and Sawyer sank another trey from right wing to extend the lead to 64-57 as the clock got below 5:00 left. Rochester got it down to 71-67 on two free throws from Wittig with 47 seconds left. The Yellowjackets stole the ball, but missed three shots in the next 18 seconds, two of those three-pointers. Brandeis finally earned a defensive rebounds. The ball was inbounded to D'Aguanno and he threw a long lead to Sawyer for a breakaway layup that essentially wrapped up the win (73-67 with 19 seconds left).
This was the first win in the Palestra by the Brandeis men in nine years and just the fifth in 32 visits. The Judges won back to back visits in 2009 and 2010, but had not beaten Rochester in the Palestra since.
Next weekend, Rochester pays return trips to NYU (Friday) and Brandeis (Sunday). UR plays five of its last seven UAA games on the road. Emory, Chicago, and Washington all won home games on Sunday, pushing their records to 5-2. Rochester and Brandeis are 4-3.