The #2-ranked New York University men's basketball team is now one win away from clinching back-to-back shares of the University Athletic Association (UAA) title following an 86-69 victory over the University of Rochester on Sunday, February 16, in Rochester, NY. 

After a back-and-forth start to the game, the Yellowjackets opened up a 15-6 lead at the 14-minute mark of the first half. With Rochester later ahead 21-13, the Violets used a 14-1 run to jump in front. 

Though the Yellowjackets briefly retook the lead, up 31-30, NYU responded by outscoring them 13-4 over the next five minutes. At the halfway point, the Violets led 43-37.

In the first six minutes of the second half, NYU held Rochester to just one field goal made and increased its advantage to 55-41. The Violets then went scoreless for the next three minutes, as the Yellowjackets closed the gap to 55-50. 

With less than seven minutes remaining in the game and NYU leading 69-60, a Hampton Sanders and-one put the Violets ahead by double-digits for remainder of the afternoon. A pair of Zay Freeney free throws in the final minute of the game gave NYU its largest lead of the day as it went on to cap off a 17-point win. 

Jack Stone notched a team-high 22 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the field, including a season-best six three-pointers made. Freeney, Sanders, and Tristan How also entered double-figures in scoring. 

The Violets will next welcome Carnegie Mellon University to the John A. Paulson Center on Friday, February 21, with a chance to earn a share of the UAA Championship. A win along with an Emory University loss would give NYU the outright title.