From University of Rochester Athletics
It took an extra five minutes longer than it wanted, but
the University of Rochester men's basketball team emerged with an
82-78 overtime victory over Case Western Reserve University on
Sunday afternoon at Adelbert Gymnasium.
Host Case Western Reserve (15-9, 6-7 UAA) got some late game
magic from Matt Clark and forced OT with some help of Rochester
missed free throws, but the Yellowjackets (10-14, 6-7 UAA) made
some key stops and sank just enough from the charity stripe in the
extra session to hang on for the win.
The Spartans battled back in the second half after they
trailed by as many as 19 points in the game. Clark would end
up scoring Case's last 14 points of regulation, closing a six point
Rochester lead by himself over the last 1:11.
With the clock at 4.2 seconds after two Mack Montague free
throws for UR, Clark was fouled shooting a wild three pointer as
the scoreboard showed 0.4 seconds. The junior would calmly
sink all three free throws, sending the game into
overtime.
In the extra session, with Case up 69-68, Montague sank a
floater in the lane which gave UR the lead for good. On the
defensive end, Tyler Sankes then blocked a Clark layup attempt
which led to a Kevin Sheehy 3-pointer at the other end to put the
'Jackets up 73-69.
Clark then responded with a layup for Case, but sophomore Sam
Borst-Smith made a clutch jumper from the top of the key to answer
back, maintaining the four point lead with 1:04 on the
clock.
Down the stretch, UR would sink 7-of-10 from the charity
stripe to seal the win.
After Rochester scored the first five points of the second
half to build a game high 19 point lead, the home Spartans would
embark on an extended 25-4 run over 10 minutes to grab a two point
lead at 43-41 with 7:17 left in regulation.
The Yellowjackets would then build their lead back to six
after a Montague three with 3:23 left before Clark would take the
game over and rally for the tie at the end of
regulation.
Montague would lead Rochester in scoring with 21
points. He added six rebounds and three steals. Sam
Borst-Smith added 15 points and five boards while Sankes added 14
points and seven rebounds. Zack Ayers chipped in 11 points
and four rebounds off the bench.
For Case, Clark ended with a game high 24 points, including
going 13-14 from the free throw line. Freshman Eric Black
also was strong off the bench, adding 19 points and 10
rebounds.
As a team, Rochester shot 40.9% (27-66) from the floor while
Case Western Reserve shot 38% (27-71) in the game. UR made
six three's while the Spartans struggled from long range making
just 3-of-23 (13%), including going 0-12 in the first
half.
Rochester finished its regular season on Saturday at Emory
University who clinched at least a share of the UAA title with its
victory over Carnegie Mellon University on Sunday. Case hosts
CMU on Saturday to finish its season.