From University of Rochester Athletics
Tournament MVP Ryan Clamage scored a career high 29 points, including 8 of 10 from the foul line, as the University of Rochester defeated Utica College, 72-67, to win the Chuck Resler Invitational Tournament at the Louis Alexander Palestra on Saturday night.
Jacob Wittig joined Clamage on the All-Tournament Team after contributing 11 points, four rebounds, five assists, and two steals to the victory. Tucker Knox was UR's third man in double figures. He finished with 10 points and grabbed eight boards. Michael Mangan had eight points and Andrew Lundstrom had seven.
Joe Stortini led Utica (1-1) with 16 points. He was named to the All-Tournament Team along with Bennito Ayarza who scored 10 points and grabbed three rebounds. Ivan Iton had 14 points and six rebounds for the Pioneers. Carl Taylor contributed eight points and eight rebounds.
Rochester scored 29 points after 21 Utica turnovers. The Yellowjackets had a slight advantage in points in the paint, 26-20. UR turned 12 offensive rebounds into nine second-chance points.
The game was foul-plagued with 54 personals assessed. One player from each side was disqualified. Rochester hit 21 of 30 from the line, Utica 16 of 27.
Rochester held an early seven point lead, 23-16, after Wittig drained a three from right wing. Ayarza got it all back by himself, with a four-point play, followed by a three-point play (layup and FT) to tie the score at 23-all. Utica stretched its lead to 28-27, but Clamage hit a three and Wittig connected from just inside the foul line as the Yellowjackets went back in front, 32-29, at halftime.
With Rochester up 40-34 early in the second half, Utica used an 11-2 run to surge in front, 45-42. Stortini made a layup, then hit a pullup trey on the break. Iton added a runner and Taylor hit 4-of-4 at the line.
Knox and Clamage combined to sink five of six at the line and Alexander Gamble made a backdoor layup to push the Yellowjackets up by eight, 58-50, as the clock approached six minutes to go. UR couldn't pull away for good with Utica nibbling away. The closest the guests got was 69-65 after Tyler Jollie hit a three in the closing seconds. Clamage cleaned it up with a 3-4 performance at the line.