CHICAGO – The University of Rochester men's basketball moved to 2-0 in University Athletic Association play following a road victory over the University of Chicago on Friday evening, with the Yellowjackets picking up a 68-61 win at the Ratner Athletics Center.

After two games in conference play, the Yellowjackets (8-5, 2-0 UAA) are the lone unbeaten team in the UAA and sit in first place among the eight teams. Chicago drops to 9-4 overall on the year and 1-1 in the conference following the loss.

Rochester's defense combined to stifle the Maroons offense on Friday, holding the hosts to 32% from the field and 24% from 3-point range. Chicago made only 21-of-66 shots from the floor, and was 6-for-25 from distance, making just 1-of-11 over the final 20 minutes.

The Yellowjackets started out strong, jumping out to an 11-3 lead. UR scored 11 straight after Eamonn Kenah opened the scoring for Chicago with a 3-pointer. UR's early run was fueled by a Mitchell Kershner layup, Logan Jagodzinski 3-pointer, two buckets from Matt Wiele and a Tomiwa Adetosoye layup.

Chicago rallied right back, scoring the next ten points, edging in front by a pair after Phillip Lawrence hit a 3-point shot.

Jagodzinski and Wiele hit the next two shots for Rochester, both from distance, moving Rochester ahead 17-13.

After teams were tied at 20, Rochester scored 13 of the next 16 points as the half wound down grabbing a double-digit lead. The run featured five points from Malachi Moore and was capped by a steal and slam from Jagodzinski.

Thomas Kurowski hit a 3-pointer for the Maroons and Alexander Battist sank a free throw and Rochester went into halftime with a 6-point lead, up 33-27.

To start the second half, Chicago hit its lone second half 3-point shot, with Joe Berry's basket trimming the 'Jacket lead to three before Rochester rattled off another 10-point surge to go up 43-30 four minutes into the half.

Matt Niemczura was a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line in the stretch and Wiele added four points while Jagodzinski connected on a bucket near the hoop.

At the midway point of the second half, Jagodzinski answered a Chicago layup with a tough, contested 3-pointer to boost Rochester's lead. The next Yellowjacket possession saw Adetosoye drive to the hoop for a layup, matching UR's biggest lead of the game, up 13 at 54-41.

The Maroons got back within nine, but two straight layups from David Ackles and Niemczura regained the comfortable lead for the Yellowjackets as the clock ticked under six minutes.

Down the stretch, a few Rochester missed free throws gave Chicago some life, with Battist driving for a layup to cut Rochester's lead to six at 64-58 with just 55 seconds remaining.

UR made four of its next six free throw attempts to maintain the lead and eventually seal off the seven-point win.

Wiele finished the contest with a double-double, registering 21 points and 11 rebounds, making 7-of-15 shots from the field. Jagodzinski sank three 3-pointers and ended with 17 points and 5 rebounds while Moore ended with 11 of Rochester's 14 bench points.

Mitchell Kershner and Niemczura each had six points, while Adetosoye finished with 4 points, 9 rebounds and 2 assists.

Chicago's leading scorer was Battist who had 13 points and a game-high 20 rebounds. Bryce Hopkins and Berry notched 11 points each.

The Yellowjackets remain on the road on Sunday for a matchup at #19 ranked Washington University in St. Louis.