From NYU Athletics
The New York University men's basketball team defeated #4-ranked
(D3hoops.com) Washington University-St. Louis 91-67
on Friday night, January 23, at the Jerome S. Coles Sports Center
in Manhattan.
The Violets (11-4, 2-2 University Athletic Association) took
control of the scoreboard against the Bears (13-2, 2-2 UAA)
from buzzer to buzzer, leading throughout. NYU scored the first 11
points of the contest and led by as much as 28 points with time
winding down in the second half.
"It helped us that we got off to a really fast start," said
NYU Head Coach Joe Nesci. "We played with a lot of
energy and we had a rhythm right away."
Hakeem Harris and Costis
Gontikas scored 24 points and 22 points, respectively.
The duo helped lead the Violets to their highest scoring total
since they tallied 92 against Carnegie Mellon
University last season. Harris hit five of his first six
three-point attempts, as NYU scored 54 points in the first
half.
"It helps a lot when you have that balance of perimeter scoring and
inside scoring," continued Nesci. "Your bigger players are then
able to play with more space. It certainly make the offense easier
and makes it more challenging for the opposing defense."
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Evan Kupferberg tallied 12 points and 11
rebounds for his eighth double-double of the season.
- Max Ralby led the Violets with a season- and
game-best seven assists to go along with five points and four
rebounds.
- Gontikas' 22 points came on 9-of-11 shooting and a perfect 4-of-4
from the foul line. The junior center added four rebounds in a
game-high 31 minutes.
- Ross Udine scored in double digits for the
Violets, totaling 11 points.