From NYU Athletics
Spencer Freedman's game-high 21 points led five Violets in double figures as New York University's men's basketball team grabbed a 66-52 win at the University of Rochester on Sunday afternoon for the team's fourth consecutive win, improving to 17-7 overall and 6-7 in the University Athletic Association (UAA).
"What a monumental weekend for the group," said head coach Dave Klatsky. "This game was totally different than Friday night in terms of style and pace but we found a way to win in a low scoring game."
The victory was NYU's first over Rochester since the 2015-16 season, snapping a 12-game skid against the Yellowjackets. It was also the Violets' first win at UR's Palestra since 2014-15.
This also marks the first time NYU has swept its UAA road weekend at Rochester and Emory University after Friday night's 88-82 win in Atlanta.
NYU's starters all scored 10-plus points as Michael Savarino and Zay Freeney had 11 apiece while Nikola Lipovic and Quinn Clark delivered 10 each in addition to Freedman.
The Violets' defense shined in the win, limiting UR to an opponent-season-low 29.5 percent (18-of-61) shooting from the floor and 25.9 percent (7-of-27) from deep. The Yellowjackets also shot just 9-of-19 from the free-throw line.
NYU never trailed in this one, taking a 10-1 lead five minutes in on a Clark layup. The Yellowjackets scored the next eight to make it a one-point game, but NYU used an 18-6 run over the next nine minutes to go ahead by 13 (28-15) at the 4:04 mark of the first half.
The advantage grew to 15, 38-23, at halftime after Freedman drilled a triple from well beyond the arc to beat the buzzer. The Violets shot 6-of-8 from downtown in the first and 14-of-26 overall, outscoring UR 14-10 in the paint.
NYU led by as many as 19 early in the second half but a 7:45 scoring drought allowed Rochester to claw its way back, coming within five (49-44) with 11:17 left.
The Violets still held a five-point lead, 55-50, with just over five minutes to play before the Yellowjackets suffered a scoring drought of their own until the final minute which allowed NYU to pull away for the victory.
"We've had some serious growth over the past few weeks and I'm so proud of how everyone is playing together," Klatsky added. "Quinn (Clark) provided a huge boost for us today. His defensive presence has been consistent all year but today he made some huge offensive plays in traffic to really ignite us."
Clark nearly had a double-double, finishing with a game-high nine boards while shooting 5-of-9 from the field.
Freedman scored 20-plus for the second straight game and ninth time this season, shooting 8-of-16 overall and 2-of-5 from deep.
The Violets forced 15 Rochester turnovers and outscored the hosts 28-22 in paint for the game despite losing the rebounding battle 43-37.