The New York University men's basketball team opened its two-game University Athletic Association (UAA) Midwest road trip with a 79-74 loss to the University of Chicago on Friday, January 24, in Chicago, IL

The Maroons (7-8, 2-2) have beaten the Violets (7-8, 0-4) in their last seven meetings.

NYU held a pair of one-point leads early in the game before Chicago went ahead 21-12.

But, a 14-4 run, spearheaded by three layups and a three-pointer from Riley Demps (New Orleans, LA/Isidore Newman), put NYU ahead 26-25.

The Violets were still leading 29-28 when Chicago scored the next six points and went on to lead at halftime 40-33. The Maroons took 39 shots in the first half, 30 of them from beyond the arc, as they were held to 35.9% overall shooting by the Violets. 

NYU, shot at a higher rate from the field, 43.8 % (14-of-32), but committed 11 turnovers over the first 20 minutes. 

Chicago extended its lead to a game-high 15 points, 56-41, before Demps'  layup, a Bobby Hawkinson (Frankfort, IL/Marist) three-point play and another Demps bucket brought the Violets within eight.   

Miles Somerville's (Bowie, MD/Georgetown Prep) three-pointer with 5:08 to play got NYU within five points, 65-60.

After again falling behind by 10, Jimmy Martinelli's (Glenview, IL/Glenbrook South) free throws with 37 ticks left pulled the Violets within four, 74-70.

Harrison Whatley's (Mount Pleasant, SC/Porter Gaud) basket got NYU within three points, 77-74, in the final seconds. But, Chicago's Jordan Baum hit two free throws for the final margin.   

Demps finished with a career-high 17 points, connecting on 8-of-9 shots from the field. Somerville finished with 13 points, while Hawkinson (10) also reached double figures.

Martinelli and Nick Macarchuk (Alamo, CA/St. Thomas Moore Prep) each grabbed nine rebounds for NYU.

Brandon Beckman and Dominic Laravie each scored 19 for Chicago.

The Violets now head to St. Louis, MO, for a game against Washington University in St. Louis on Sunday. Tip-off is set for 12:00pm central time.