From University of Chicago Athletics
Junior guard Jordan Smith scored a career-best 29 points and the University of Chicago men's basketball team pulled away late to beat University of Rochester 72-63 on Friday.
The Maroons (15-6 overall, 7-3 UAA) remain in first place in the University Athletic Association. The Yellowjackets ran their record to 9-12 overall and 5-5 in conference.
On the first play of the game, Smith sank a three-pointer. It was just the beginning of Smith's hot streak, as the junior scored the team's opening 14 points. UChicago took a 14-5 lead with four treys from Smith. Long-distance bombs fell in bunches for the Maroons as they surged ahead 28-14. Eight of the team's first 10 field goals came from beyond the arc.
The visitors took a 37-26 advantage into the locker room at halftime. Smith totaled a career-high seven three-pointers in the opening 20 minutes and scored 23 points. UChicago shot 46.4 percent from the field compared to 33.3 percent shooting by Rochester. Guard Sam Borst-Smith kept the Yellowjackets in the game with 13 points.
In the second half, junior forward Nate Brooks contributed a layup and a dunk for the team's first four points. Rochester began to mount a comeback and got within five points at 47-42. Back-to-back threes by junior guard Scott Herlihy and junior forward Alex Voss put the momentum back in UChicago's corner.
The Yellowjackets stayed close and made 9-1 run to make the score 62-61 with three-and-a-half minutes remaining. However, the Maroons scored 10 of last 12 points in the game to secure the victory. UChicago made 7 of 8 free throws during that time, with four points each by Voss and freshman forward Collin Barthel.
Smith's 29 points established a new career-high for the guard. Borst-Smith nearly matched him with 26 points of his own. UChicago finished the game shooting 12-for-29 from three-point range (41.4 percent). It is the sixth time that the Maroons have made at least 10 treys in a game this season.
Rochester led the rebounding category 39-36, along with points in the paint at 32-20. UChicago turned the ball over 12 times and the Yellowjackets committed eight turnovers.
UChicago Team Stats & Leaders
Field-goal Percentage – 43.6 percent (24-55)
Three-point Percentage – 41.4 percent (12-29)
Free-throw Percentage – 63.2 percent (12-19)
Jordan Smith (Guard, Jr.) – 29 points
Alex Voss (Forward, Jr.) – 10 points, 5 assists
Nate Brooks (Forward, Jr.) – 7 points, 10 rebounds
Rochester Team Stats & Leaders
Field-goal Percentage – 38.3 percent (23-60)
Three-point Percentage – 23.5 percent (4-17)
Free-throw Percentage – 65.0 percent (13-20)
Sam Borst-Smith – 26 points, 5 rebounds, 4 steals
Tyler Sankes – 12 points, 7 rebounds