Strong second half leads men past NYU, 56-52, in UAA opener

Collin Sawyer '20 (photo by Tessa Holleran '21)
Collin Sawyer '20 (photo by Tessa Holleran '21)

WALTHAM, Mass. – The Brandeis University men's basketball team closed the game on a 25-11 run today as the Judges rallied to defeat visiting New York University, 56-52, in the University Athletic Association opener for both teams. With the win, the Judges improve to 8-3, 1-0 UAA, while the Violets fall to 6-6, 0-1 UAA.

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

HOW IT HAPPENED

  • Both offenses struggled in the first half as NYU established a 27-23 lead in the first 20 minutes. The visitors shot 31 percent from the field (9-29), but they held Brandeis to just 20.7 percent (6-29), including 1-of-7 from 3-point range.
  • The leading scorers in the first half were rookies who came off the bench, as NYU's Cade Hoppe led all players with nine points, while Brandeis rookie Nolan Hagerty (Yarmouth, Maine/Yarmouth) had six.
  • The Violets opened the second half with a jumper by Dom Cristiano to take their biggest lead of the second half at 29-23.
  • Brandeis answered with 11 of the game's next 13 points, including six in a row from graduate student Latye Workman (Brooklyn, N.Y./Bedford Academy) that cut the NYU lead to 31-30.
  • The Judges took their first lead of the game at the 15:03 mark on a Lawrence Sabir (Providence, R.I./Lasalle Acad.) coast-to-coast lay-up and eventually went up 5 on another Sabir bucket that made it 38-33 with 12:21 left.
  • NYU answered with an 8-2 run of their own, started by a Cameron Moore 3-pointer and capped by his jumper with 8:09 remaining that made it 41-40 in favor of the visitors.
  • Brandeis hit 1-of-2 free throws with 7:01 left to tie the game at 41-all, but held NYU to just three field goals the rest of the way.
  • The Judges took the lead for good on Collin Sawyer's (New London, Conn./New London) corner trifecta with 6:16 remaining, only their second of the game.
  • Sawyer added a traditional three-point play at the 3:46 mark that made it a two-possession game at 48-44, and the Judges were able to keep NYU at bay the rest of the way.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

  • Sawyer scored 11 of his team-high 13 points in the second half to lead three Judges in double figures in scoring. It was his sixth game reaching double digits this season.
  • Sabir added 12 points – seven in the second half – while pulling down five rebounds.
  • Workman rounded out the double-digit scorers by recording his second double-double of the season and the fifth of his career with 10 points and 11 rebounds, tied for game-high honors. He also led the Judges with four assists and added two blocked shots.
  • NYU's Cristiano led all players with 16 points, 11 in the second half, while Moore scored 10 of his 14 after the break as well.
  • Cristiano matched Workman's double-double performance with 11 rebounds, while Jule Brown led all players with five assists and three steals.
  • After struggling from the floor in the first half, Brandeis turned it around in the second, hitting 52.2% (12-23) while holding NYU to 32.1% (9-28).
  • The Judges held the Violets 21 points below their season scoring average and under 60 points for the first time in 2018-19.
  • Rebounding totals were even at 41-all, while Brandeis won the turnover battle, 12-9, including 6-3 in the second half.

UP NEXT

  • Brandeis closes out its non-conference schedule on Monday evening at Amherst College at 7 p.m.
  • NYU faces Case Western Reserve University next Friday night in Cleveland at 8 p.m.