Brandeis (19-6, 9-5 UAA) got off to a slow start in the first half, missing 15 of their first 17 shots as the Violets jumped out to a 12-4 lead nine minutes into the contest. The Judges climbed to within five points at 17-12 on a jumper and two free throws by rookie reserve Andre Roberson.
NYU (19-6, 8-6) responded with a 12-2 run over the next 4:21 highlighted by 3-pointers from seniors Matt Basford and Michael DeCorso that pushed the advantage to 29-16 with 4:00 before intermission. Brandeis closed strong, scoring 10 of the last 15 points, including eight from junior guard Kwame Graves-Fulgham, with a tip-in by rookie reserve forward Rich Magee at the buzzer slicing the halftime deficit to 34-26. DeCorso led all players with 13 first-half points on five-of-eight shooting with a pair of trifectas, while Graves-Fulgham paced the Judges with 10 points and five rebounds, including four on the offensive glass. Brandeis shot just one-of-13 from 3-point range in the first half (7.7 percent) and nine-of-32 overall (28.1%), while the Violets connected on 50 percent from the field (11-22) and three-of-eight from beyond the arc (37 percent).
In the second half, the Violets expanded the lead to nine points, 39-30, on a free throw by senior Jason Boone with just over 2:30 off the clock. Brandeis answered with a 10-1 run over the next four minutes, tying the game at 40-40 on a pair of Steve DeLuca free throws. NYU held onto the lead with a Boone lay-up, and were able to maintain it for the next five minutes until a key exchange. After Roberson missed a chance to give Brandeis its first lead with 7:41 on the clock, Violet sophomore Charlie Parker corralled the rebound and drove the length of the floor for a lay-up that gave NYU a 53-50 lead. However, Boone was called for a technical foul for hanging on the rim following the bucket. Brandeis sophomore Kevin Olson hit the ensuing free throws and the Brandeis defense held NYU without a field goal over the next seven minutes. The Judges took their first lead on a Stephen Hill free throw, and hit five of their next seven field goals, taking a 66-58 lead with 1:44 to go on a jumper by Joe Coppens. The Judges hit 10-of-12 from the line down the stretch to ice the contest. Brandeis turned the shooting tables in the second half, connecting on 10-of-16 from the field (62.5%) and 27-of-33 from the line (81.8%), while holding the Violets to 8-of-25 (32%) from the floor.
Brandeis was led by Roberson’s career-high 17 points, hitting 10-of-13 from the line and three-of-seven from the field with a trifecta. Graves-Fulgham tallied 15 points and finished with seven boards (six offensive), while Olson closed out with 12 points and a pair of trifectas. Brandeis used a 34-25 advantage from the free-throw line and 15-6 edge in points off turnovers, as the Judges committed just five while NYU had 14 miscues.
NYU was paced by DeCorso’s 18 points, but just five after halftime. Boone finished with 16 points and a game-high 11 rebounds, while Parker had 10 points and four assists to lead all players.