The UR Men’s Basketball team defeated Case Western Reserve’s (CWR) by a score of 89 to 87 Friday, in Cleveland.
UR junior Tomiwa Adetosoye (#8) scored the first points of the game 25 seconds into the first half with a clean layup.
UR jumped out to a 7–6 lead before CWR retook the lead on a two-point jump shot from graduate student Andy Barba (#99). Neither team gained significant momentum until CWR senior Umar Rashid (#11) knocked down a three-pointer to make it a 16–11 game.
A minute later, UR responded with a three of their own, courtesy of graduate student Bennet Kwiecinski (#11). Next, Kwiecinski grabbed a defensive rebound, which developed into a made jump shot by senior Ethan McEachern (#3) to tie the game at 16.
CWR converted another three, this time from sophomore Drey Fox (#8). UR would go on to take a one-point lead when Kwiecinski made two free throws after being fouled on the fast break.
Neither team made significant headway for five minutes, resulting in a 33–33 tie with five minutes to go. The teams traded three-point makes, with UR adding a jump shot and CWR two free throws to tie it again at 38. UR made a push in the final two minutes by scoring eight points in the paint and at the free-throw line. However, CWR reduced the lead to five at the half when senior Sam Trunley (#10) made a three at the buzzer.
Four minutes into the second half, CWR equalized the score at 50 when Rashid made another jump shot and was fouled. He then made the free throw to take the lead.
The lead changed four times in the next three minutes, with CWR ending the exchange on top when Trunley made two free throws to make the score 58–57.
UR came roaring back, however, going on a 15–6 run over the next five minutes. UR built on this momentum, with their lead reaching 10 with four minutes to go.
Despite appearances, CWR was not yet out of the game. They scored 16 points over four minutes, culminating with two made free throws by Barba to take the lead 87–86 with 37 seconds left.
On the next possession, UR graduate student Nate Sock (#22) missed a jump shot, but Kwiecinski grabbed the rebound and was fouled on the follow-up. He made both free throws to take the lead back with six seconds left.
Adetosoye thwarted CWR’s last chance with a crucial steal and was fouled shooting on the fast break with two seconds left. He made one free throw and time expired as CWR corralled the miss.
With the win, the Yellowjackets improved to 7–12 and will continue their road trip in Pittsburgh on Tuesday against Carnegie Mellon University.
