PITTSBURGH, PA – The University of Rochester men's basketball team put forth a strong defensive effort, holding a high powered Carnegie Mellon University offense in check on Friday, earning a 71-60 road victory at CMU's Weigand Gymnasium.
 
Rochester (10-4, 2-2 UAA) held the host Tartans (8-5, 1-2 UAA) over 20 points below their scoring average on the season, as CMU entered the contest scoring 83.5 points per game, which was second in the conference.
 
For UR, senior Brian Amabilino Perez once again led the team in scoring, recording 18 points and added 10 rebounds for his third double-double of the season. Amabilino Perez was 7-for-12 from the floor and also chipped in a team high four assists.
 
Trent Noordsij sank three 3-pointers and finished with 15 points for the Yellowjackets, while junior Matt Niemczura added 10 points off the bench. Ross Gang added eight points and eight rebounds while Dan Masino scored seven for Rochester.
 
Kevin Sax led the Tartans with 11 points, while R.J. Holmes added a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Jack Stone also finished in double-figures, scoring ten points.
 
UR got off to a quick start in this one, leading 9-0 after the games opening three and a half minutes. After a Gang breakaway layup got things started, Noordsij sank a triple and Amabilino Perez added two buckets inside.
 
The Yellowjackets held the lead until Carnegie Mellon battled back to tie things up at 21-all with 5:29 left in the half following back-to-back layups from Sax.
 
CMU followed by taking its first lead of the game, 25-24, a little over a minute later, following a jumper by Holmes.
 
UR answered right away though, scoring the next seven points to jump ahead 31-25. At intermission, Rochester led 35-30.
 
In the second half, it was another strong start for the Yellowjackets, with UR jumping out on an 11-3 run to reach a 13-point cushion just four minutes in. Masino scored five points in the rush, as UR was 4-of-5 shooting to being the second period.
 
As the remainder of the half wore on, Rochester was able to keep Carnegie Mellon at arms reach, not allowing the Tartans to get within double-digits the rest of the way.
 
Rochester was strong inside throughout the contest, leading by ten in both the points in the paint (42-32) and rebounding (37-27) categories. In addition, the 'Jackets shot 49% from the floor (47% from distance), compared to the Tartans 42% overall and 31% from behind the arc.
 
The Yellowjackets remain on the road for their next matchup, coming against 24th-ranked Case Western Reserve on Sunday at noon in Cleveland. CWRU will be looking to right its ship in that one, as the Spartans saw their 12-game winning streak snapped Friday by Emory in an 80-70 loss.