CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Brandeis University men's basketball team led for much of the afternoon but went cold over the final eight minutes as Case Western Reserve closed the game on a 16-7 run, as the Spartans sealed a narrow 73–67 win against the Judges in a tightly contested University Athletic Association matchup Sunday afternoon in Cleveland at the Horsburgh Gymnasium.

TEAM RECORDS

• Brandeis, 13-7, 6-3 UAA.
• Case Western Reserve, 10-10, 2-7 UAA.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Judges opened the game with confidence, with a 3-pointer from graduate student DJ Courtney (Miami, Fla./ Christopher Columbus) on their first possession.
• The teams traded early baskets before back-to-back 3-pointers from senior Elias Rodl (Berlin, Germany/ Schulund Leistungssportzentrum Berlin) and sophomore Ryan Weiss (Hewlett, N.Y./ North Broward Prep) helped Brandeis tie the game at 18-18 midway through the half.
• Rodl then sparked a late first-half push with a 3-pointer bringing them into the lead by two possessions. The Judges quickly followed this up with back-to-back 3-pointers from Weiss and sophomore Alex Zakheim (Bergenfield, N.J./ Perkiomen, Pa.) to take a 30-22 lead with 7:16 left on the clock.
• The Judges closed the half with a 17-14 run, capped by a Rodl jumper in the final minute, to take a slight 38-34 lead into the break.
• The Spartans came out of the break strong with two baskets in the first three minutes to tie the game 38-38.
• A dunk from graduate student Aedan Using (Old Lyme, Conn./ Old Lyme) kept Brandeis in the lead, but the Spartans took back control after a 3-pointer by Anand Dharmarajan.
• The lead continued to switch back and forth between the teams through the first 10 minutes of the half. Rodl knocked down a pair of 3-pointers, and baskets from Weiss and Using pushed Brandeis into the lead, 60-57, with 8:27 remaining.
• However, the Judges went ice cold shooting over the last eight minutes, with only 3-18 from the field, and 1-13 from 3-point range.
• Case Western steadily chipped away, using offensive rebounds and trips to the free-throw line to stay within striking distance and the Spartans tied the game at 62–62 with 4:36 remaining, marking Brandeis' final lead of the afternoon.
• While the Judges managed a late 3-pointer from Courtney, they were outscored 16-7 in the last eight minutes and they could not regain the lead as The Spartans sealed the 73–67 decision with six free throws in the final 35 seconds.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Rodl led the Judges with 25 points, adding nine rebounds and four assists in an all-around effort. 
• Weiss followed with 12 points and nine rebounds, while Zakheim contributed eight points and four assists. Courtney added six points, including two three-pointers.
• Case Western Reserve was led by former Judge player Ethan Edwards, who scored a game-high 26 points, while Anand Dharmarajan added 13 and Andrew Fox chipped in 12.
• Brandeis shot 34.8 percent from the field and 30.8 percent from beyond the arc (12-of-39), while committing 14 turnovers.
• The Judges held advantages in assists (19–6) and time with the lead (22:27), but Case Western Reserve's edge in free throws - hitting 18-of-22 and outscoring Brandeis 18-9 from the line - rebounds (47–40), and points in the paint (34–20) proved decisive.

UP NEXT

• The Judges return to the road for another UAA challenge, traveling to Atlanta to face Emory University on Friday, Feb. 13, at 5:30 p.m., as Brandeis looks to bounce back in conference play.