BROOKLYN, NY – The 7th ranked University of Rochester basketball team held New York University to a season low 55 points in a 72-55 road victory in University Athletic Association play on Sunday afternoon at the Brooklyn Athletic Facility.
Rochester (13-3, 3-2 UAA) used a late game 16-0 run to break open what was a close game throughout the day. UR never trailed in the game, picking up its first road UAA win of the season and 12th straight victory over the Violets (12-4, 1-4 UAA).
Entering the day, NYU was ranked sixth in Division III, averaging over 90 points per game. The Yellowjacket defense combined to allow the Violets to shoot just 31% (17-54) overall, well below their season average of 49%. Rochester meanwhile, ended the day at exactly 50% from the field, making 29-of-58 shot attempts.
Ross Gang led all players with 22 points, one shy of his career high set one week ago, and added 4 rebounds and 4 steals. Ryan Algier chipped in his third double-double of the season, recording 11 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks in 18 minutes of action.
Dan Masino finished with 9 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists, while Matt Wiele and Logan Jagodzinski each recorded eight points.
The Yellowjackets also had a big advantage on the glass, outrebounding the Violets 42-28. That 14-rebound margin is the biggest of the season for Rochester.
NYU's leading scorer was Spencer Freedman who had 16 points. Michael Savarino added 11 points as the only other Violet in double-figures. Quinn Clark was held scoreless, but grabbed 13 rebounds inside for NYU.
UR's defensive prowess was on display from the opening tap. NYU was held to just two field goals, both of which were 3-pointers over the first eight minutes of the game. Back-to-back Jagodzinski slam dunks capped an early 8-0 run to put Rochester ahead 14-6.
NYU pulled within five after a four-point play from Zay Freeney with 7:45 left to go in the half, but layups from Gang and Algier quickly boosted the lead back to nine.
Neither team recorded a point in the final two minutes of the half, as Rochester headed to the locker room up five, 29-24.
In the second half, a couple early 3-pointers, coming from Wiele and Mitchell Kershner allowed Rochester's lead to get back up to nine, and the Yellowjackets held NYU at arms distance for the next several minutes.
The Violets did some tough work inside and got back within six following two Hayden Peek free throws with 6:49 on the clock.
Rochester responded though, scoring the next 16 points of the game to bust open the contest. Masino hit a jumper and three free throws to score five points in the stretch. UR's size also proved to be the difference as Algier and Jagodzinski added to more emphatic slams to continue to boost the lead.
In crunch time, Rochester's defense held NYU without a field goal for a nearly nine-minute stretch late in the game. During that time, NYU was outscored 21-6 and was 0-for-6 from the field while also turning the ball over six times.
Rochester returns home next weekend for another UAA doubleheader on Friday and Sunday. UR plays host to Washington-St. Louis on Friday night, before entertaining Chicago on Sunday afternoon.