ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Brandeis University men's basketball team battled back from a double-digit deficit and cut the margin to three in the final minute, but the University of Rochester converted late free throws to secure an 89–83 win over the Judges in a UAA matchup Sunday afternoon.

TEAM RECORDS

• Brandeis, 13-9, 6-5 UAA.
• Rochester, 11-11, 4-7 UAA.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Yellowjackets never trailed in this one, starting on a 10-5 run in the first 5 minutes.
• Senior Elias Rodl (Berlin, Germany/ Schulund Leistungssportzentrum Berlin) followed with a 3-pointer and a traditional three-point play to shorten the gap to 17-11, Rochester, with just over seven minutes elapsed.
• UR led by as many as 14 points with 6:25 left in the first before Brandeis went on a 13-6 run to close within seven before the 'Jackets hit a pair of late free throws to take a 41-32 edge into the half.
• Rodl had 12 points in the first half, while Rochester's Corvin Oprea had 16. 
• Brandeis sophomore Alex Zakheim (Bergenfield, N.J./ Perkiomen, Pa.) began the second half with two baskets to bring the Judges within 7 points of Rochester and Rodl followed with two layups to close the gap further, a 46-40 score with 17:40 left on the clock.
• Zakheim and Rodl continued to gain momentum with three more baskets, including a 3-pointer by Zakheim. 
• As soon as the Judges closed within 5 points, the Yellowjackets went on a 9-0 run to stretch their lead to double digits.
• From there, the teams traded shots, with key baskets from graduate student Jai Deshpande (San Carlos, Calif./ Sacred Heart Prep) to keep the Judges in the game.
• A three-point play by graduate student DJ Courtney (Miami, Fla./ Christopher Columbus) shortened the lead to only 8 points and after a free throw and layup by Zakheim, the Judges only trailed by 5 with 4:17 left in the game.
• Free throws and consecutive 3-pointers by graduate student Aedan Using (Old Lyme, Conn./ Old Lyme) and Rodl trimmed the margin to 86–83 in the final minute, however Judges fell just short as the Yellowjackets hit three free throws to close the game 89-83.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Rodl poured in 29 points to lead the Judges, while adding six rebounds. 
• Zakheim followed closely with 28 points - 19 coming in the second half - and nine rebounds, and Courtney chipped in 12 points and five rebounds.
• Using anchored the glass with a game-high 12 rebounds to go along with four assists and three blocks, helping Brandeis to a 42-41 edge on the boards and seven total blocks as a team.
• Rochester's Corvin Oprea erupted for a game-high 40 points, 26 of which came in the second half. He added four assists.
• Jordan Owusu contributed 14 points. Rochester assisted on 18 baskets and received 24 points from its bench.
• Brandeis shot 43.1 percent from the field (28-65) and went 20-of-25 (80.0 percent) from the free-throw line, but connected on just 7-of-30 (23.3 percent) from three-point range.
• Rochester shot 41.2 percent overall (28-68), knocked down 11 three-pointers at a 39.3 percent clip.

UP NEXT

• The Judges return home to Waltham for another UAA challenge on Friday, Feb. 20, at 5:30 p.m. against University of Chicago, as Brandeis looks to bounce back from their three-game losing streak.