New York University's 18th-ranked men's basketball team fell to Brandeis University, 81-61, in both teams' University Athletic Association (UAA) opener on Saturday afternoon in Waltham, MA.

It was the Violets' (11-1, 0-1 UAA) first loss of the year as they were held to a season-low 61 points, with 33 coming from Zay Freeney and Quinn Clark.

The game started as a back-and-forth affair as NYU took a 14-13 lead with 12:43 left in the first after Spencer Freedman's jumper. Brandeis responded by scoring nine straight to go up 22-14. But, the Violets came back within five (25-20) after a triple from Nikola Lipovic at the 9:02 mark.

Brandeis then scored seven unanswered to take its first double-digit lead, 32-20, three minutes later. However, NYU outscored the Judges 18-10 over the final 6:25 of the first to cut its deficit to 42-38 at intermission.

A Freeney layup two minutes into the second half brought the Violets within two, 44-42. But, Brandeis never allowed them to get closer than that for the remainder of the contest. 

NYU kept it tight until late, closing the gap to four (58-54) on a Clark bucket with eight minutes left. The Judges led 66-58 with just under five minutes to play as a comeback was still well within reach. But, the hosts then erupted for 15 straight points to put this one away.

Freeney scored a team-high 18 points while Clark finished with 15 points, seven rebounds, two steals, and a block.

Michael Savarino added seven points, five boards and three assists. Freedman was limited to six points and six assists in the loss.

Both sides committed just eight turnovers apiece as the game came down to Brandeis' hot shooting down the stretch, connecting on 14-of-26 field goals and 5-of-9 three-pointers in the second half.

The Violets stay on the road for their next outing as they continue UAA play at University of Chicago on Friday, January 13, in Chicago, IL.