Hot Shooting Thwarts Hunter, 85-69

Jensen, Polan, Yaffe Score 18 Apiece as Violets Shoot Season-Best 62.5%

Richie Polan scored 18 points in 17 minutes.

Keith Jensen, Richie Polan and Carl Yaffe scored 18 points apiece while helping New York University shoot a season-best 62.5% from the floor in Wednesday's 85-69 victory over non-conference rival Hunter College at the Hunter Sportsplex in New York.

Led by Polan, who hit nine of his 10 shots in 17 minutes off the bench, the Violets (6-2) converted 35 of their 56 attempts while netting 80-plus points for the third time this season.

While Polan produced a season highs in scoring and Yaffe tallied a career best, Andy Stein produced his first collegiate double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds while shooting 6-for-7 from the field. All told, NYU got 71 of its 85 points from the quartet of Jensen, Polan, Stein and Carl Yaffe and owned a 36-22 rebounding advantage.

Playing their first game in 18 days, the Violets started swiftly, seizing a 14-3 lead just 3:52 into the action. Jensen scored six of his points during NYU's early outburst, and 12 of his 14 first-half tallies as the visitors canned 12 of their first 17 shots en route to a 30-12 advantage.

Eventually, Hunter heated up and NYU's hot hand cooled somewhat as the hosts pulled within 32-29 before a 10-0 burst enabled the Violets to leave the floor with a 44-34 halftime lead. It was the second straight game where the Violets shot 60% or better in the opening half, hitting 18 of their 30 shot attempts.

Moreover, NYU used its size to claim a 23-4 rebounding edge during the first 20 minutes as its three 6-8 players enjoyed fine first halves: Yaffe scored 11 points, Stein contributed eight tallies and 8 boards and Polan tallied nine points.

Rocco Rubino paced Hunter (5-5) with 18 points and five assists, while Maxwell Dubois finished with 17 tallies, nine boards and five steals. The Hawks shot 45.3% (24-for-53) from the field.

NYU resumes action Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 2 and 3, when it hosts the NYU New Year's Classic. The Violets will face Wentworth Institute of Technology on Saturday at 5 p.m., then tip off against Lebanon Valley College at 6 p.m. on Sunday.