Box Score
A big second-half run propelled the New York University men's basketball team to a 77-67 victory over Drew University in the first game of the Holiday Classic on Sunday afternoon, January 2, at the Coles Sports Center in Manhattan.
After a Drew (4-6) spurt pulled it to within one, 51-50, with 11:05 to play, the Violets (9-0) went on a tear, outscoring the Rangers 19-6 over the next seven-plus minutes. Kyle Stockmal started the run with a three-pointer and added another triple and a layup for eight points over the stretch. Andy Stein also played a big role in the run, scoring seven points, including a big three-point play after Drew got as close as three.
A final layup from Stein capped the run and gave NYU a 70-56 lead with 3:41 to play. The lead remained in double digits the rest of the way as the Violets finished 15-for-29 (51.7%) from the floor in the second half after shooting just 13-for-33 (39.4%) in the first.
“We expected a tough game, and overall our effort was good,” said head coach Joe Nesci. “Once we adjusted to their zone in the second half, we executed much better.”
NYU's effort was especially good on the glass, where the team outrebounded Drew 45-26 while securing 17 offensive boards (the same number of defensive rebounds Drew pulled down). Richie Polan led the way with a career-high 17 rebounds, while Stein, Max Wein, Carl Yaffe, and D.J. Glavan each had at least five.
The Violets also moved the ball extremely well once again, doling out 20 assists – led by 10 from Yaffe. It was the fifth straight game NYU had at least 20 helpers.
Defensively, the team put together its best stretch in the first half. After a pair of Yaffe free throws tied the score at 15-15, the Violets held the Rangers scoreless for nearly five minutes while going on an 8-0 run.
The first-half lead swelled to as high as 11 late, but Drew cut it to seven going into halftime and got as close as one twice in the second half. After the second time, though, NYU put together its big run to secure the victory and remain unbeaten in 2010-11.
Polan scored 14 points to go along with his 17 rebounds to post his eighth double-double in nine games this season. Yaffe recorded his third career double-double with 15 points (5-for-6 from the free-throw line) and a game-high 10 assists. Stockmal (season-high 16 points), Stein (14 points, six rebounds), and Wein (10 points, six rebounds) also scored in double figures for the Violets.
Kyle Joyce led Drew with 18 points on six threes. Asmar Capers added 17, while Terrell Brown notched a double-double with 10 points and 10 boards.
NYU returns to action at 7:00 pm tomorrow night when it hosts Swarthmore College in the final game of the Holiday Classic. Drew takes on Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts at 5:00 pm at Coles.
