ROCHESTER, N.Y. - Tyler Sankes scored 15 points and grabbed eight rebounds in 23 minutes off the bench to lead the University of Rochester to a 65-50 victory over New York University at the Louis Alexander Palestra on Friday night.
John DiBartolomeo scored 15 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, and handed out six assists for the Yellowjackets (17-0 overall, 6-0 University Athletic Association). Rochester won its 19th straight game dating back to last season, its 33rd regular-season game at the Palestra, and its 20th straight UAA win in the Palestra. The Yellowjackets are ranked second nationally.
Rochester's win, coupled with Emory's 69-55 victory over Brandeis in Atlanta, gives Rochester undisputed possession of first place in the UAA. Brandeis is second at 5-1 and comes to the Palestra on Sunday. Emory is third (4-2) and hosts NYU Sunday.
Devin Karch scored 13 points for NYU. He was the only man in double figures for the Violets (12-5, 2-4 UAA). Kyle Stockmal, Costin Gontikas, and Evan Kupferberg scored eight points apiece.
A layup by Karch kept NYU within four, 20-16, with 8:27 left in the first half. Rob Reid made two free throws to ignite a 15-0 run over the next seven minutes. Tyler Seidman hit a mid-range jumper and a three-pointer. Sankes added a jumper and a layup and DiBartolomeo hit two jumpers. Rochester led, 35-16 and left the court up 35-19 at the half.
NYU opened the second half on a 7-0 run – Stockmal hit a trey, Carl Yaffee made a layup, and Karch sank two free throws – to pull within 35-26. The closest the Violets got after that was eight points, 42-34 with 12:55 to go after Kupfenberg's layup.
Kyle Reardon sank three pointers from each corner in the next three minutes, boosting Rochester's lead to 48-35, with 9:33 left.
NYU shot 40.8% from the floor (20-49), 23.1% outside the arc (3-13), and 58.3% from the line (7-12). Rochester was 20 of 43 from the floor (46.5%), 7 of 18 on three-point shots (38.9%), and 18 of 20 from the line (90%). The Yellowjackets won the battle of the boards, 33-25.