ATLANTA – A late rally from the University of Rochester men's basketball team fell just short as #15-ranked Emory University held on for a 76-74 victory in the regular season finale for both teams on Saturday afternoon at the Woodruff PE Center.
Rochester finishes the regular season with a 17-8 record and ends up 8-6 in the UAA, tied for third place in the league standings. Emory moves to 19-5 and 12-2 overall, winning the UAA title for the third straight season and fifth time in the last season seasons.
In both halves, the Yellowjackets fell behind by double-digits, but managed to rally each time, eventually getting a potential game-tying shot at the buzzer of the second half, one which clanged off the iron allowing the Eagles to pick up the win.
UR was paced by senior Ross Gang who had 15 points and four rebounds, making 3-of-5 from 3-point range. Trent Noordsij also hit three triples and ended with 13 points and six boards. Dan Masino had 11 points, 4 assists and 3 rebounds, while Brian Amabilino Perez added 10 points and eight boards. Rochester's fifth starter, Matt Wiele added 8 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists.
Emory was led by senior Matthew Schner who had a game high 27 points to go along with 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals. Nick Stuck added 15 points, 9 assists and 5 boards while both Cale Martens and Romin Williams had 10 points each for the Eagles.
After the score was tied 7-7 three minutes into the game, the host Eagles used a 19-5 run to surge ahead by 14 points, leading 26-12 at the 11:14 mark of the half. In the stretch, Emory was on fire from the field, making 8-of-12 shots, while also forcing UR into committing six turnovers.
Rochester responded with a 12-2 run which featured two Masino 3-pointers, and added another 8-2 spurt later on, again paced by four Masino points.
Throughout the final 11 minutes of the half, the Yellowjackets held onto the ball well, only turning the ball over once more to cut the deficit to two heading into intermission, trailing 36-34.
After halftime, the Eagles built their lead back to double-digits following an 11-2 start to the second half. Schner bookended the run with two jump shots for Emory.
Rochester came clawing back. C.J. Amsellem and Matt Niemczura each hit 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions to pull UR within six, trailing 51-45 with under 14 minutes remaining.
Gang and Noordsij followed with back-to-back three's for Rochester later on. That started a 13-2 run which saw the Yellowjackets take the lead 58-57 with 8:05 left in regulation. It was Rochester's first lead of the game since being up 5-4 two minutes into the game.
Two Marten's free throws and a Schner layup put Emory back on top, 61-58. Niemczura answered with a tip-in basket to cut the lead to one, but Emory added five straight points to pull ahead 66-60 with under four minutes left. Schner hit a huge 3-pointer to end the Eagles run.
The Eagle lead got up to eight with under three minutes to go, but Rochester hit some big shots down the stretch to stay in the game. After Wiele hit a jumper to cut the lead to six, Gang hit a 3-pointer and Noordsij added another to pull the Yellowjackets within four, each answering baskets from Emory's high-powered offense.
In the final minute, Rochester's defense got a stop when Williams was blocked from behind by Wiele, but a turnover at the other end gave Emory the ball right back. Stuck sank two free throws and Emory was back up by six.
Noordsij missed a 3-pointer, but a huge offensive rebound by Amabilino Perez gave UR the ball back. The senior was fouled on the rebound and sank both free throws.
Emory was fouled on the inbounds play and missed the front end of the one-and-one, giving Rochester the ball back with under 20 seconds left.
Another big offensive board by Amabilino Perez resulted in a jump ball, with possession staying with Rochester. Noordsij sank a layup with five seconds left and UR was just down two.
After a timeout, Rochester got the turnover it needed, as a bad pass was sent out of bounds by the Eagles, allowing the Yellowjackets on last chance to tie or win it. The play went to Noordsij, the buzzer-beating hero from a couple weeks ago against Washington, with the seniors hook shot just rimming out as time expired.
The Yellowjackets will now have to wait and see if their season resume is strong enough to earn an at-large berth into the NCAA Division III Tournament. The field will be announced on Monday afternoon on NCAA.com.