New York University's Men's Basketball Team snapped its losing skid and picked up win number 10 on the season with a comeback, 77-73 triumph over Moravian University on Monday, February 7, in Bethlehem, PA.
"Our program showed tremendous grit and maturity tonight," said Head Coach
Dagan Nelson. "Everyone made positive contributions and our bench was tremendous."
NYU's reserves poured in 29 points as the Violets erased a 13-point halftime deficit to get back in the win column.
The Greyhounds used a 12-4 run to take a 14-point lead (27-13) with 12:21 to play in the first after Thomas Abato converted an and-one.
Moravian's advantage grew to 21 points late in the half, but NYU outscored the hosts 10-2 over the final five-and-a-half minutes to cut its deficit to 45-32 at the break.
Both sides traded buckets to open the second half until the Violets mounted eight unanswered points, capped off by a
Zay Freeney long-ball, to climb within five, 53-48.
Alex Maticiuc hit a three of his own to put NYU ahead briefly, 56-55, at the 11:29 mark of the second but Moravian regained the edge two minutes later after a mini run to swing the tide.
Then, with just over a minute left in regulation and the Greyhounds clinging to a one-point lead (71-70), rookie
Holt Bashinsky buried a clutch trey to put NYU ahead for good.
Senior captain
Bobby Hawkinson iced the game with a late layup and made a free throw with one second on the clock as NYU reached double-digit victories for the first time since 2017-18.
BOX SCORE BREAKDOWN
- Hawkinson posted his fifth double-double in the last six games with team highs of 15 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks.
- Freeney netted 12 points and dished out a career-best six assists.
- Nikola Lipovic notched his second-straight 11-point game (4-of-8 FG, 3-of-6 3PT) while adding three boards and a block.
- Bashinsky and Maticiuc totaled nine points each with Maticiuc corralling a season-high-tying eight rebounds.
- Riley Demps added eight points (3-of-5 FG), three boards and an assist.
- The Violets controlled the glass, out-rebounding Moravian 42-31 and 10-2 on the offensive boards.
- This was NYU's final non-Association outing of the season as the team finished 10-1 outside of the UAA.
NEXT UP
NYU returns to University Athletic Association (UAA) play on Friday, February 11, when they travel to Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH.