For the fifth game in a row, the University of Rochester men's basketball team played to a one-possession game, but unfortunately came up on the short end of a 69-66 decision at the hands of Brandeis University at the Louis Alexander Palestra on Friday night.
 
With the win, Brandeis improves to 14-7 overall and gets back to .500 in University Athletic Association play with a 5-5 record. Rochester drops to 7-14 overall and 1-9 in UAA play.
 
Senior Logan Jagodzinski led all scorers with 24 points on the night, adding a team-high seven rebounds and three assists for Rochester. He made 8-of-16 shots from the floor and was 4-for-7 from 3-point range.
 
Sophomore Theo Murray added ten points off the bench, while Ethan McEachern and Corvin Oprea each scored nine for the 'Jackets.
 
Four starters finished in double-figure scoring for the Judges, with Elias Rodl leading the way with 19 points. Alex Zakheim had 14 points while Toby Harris and Sam Adusei finished with 12 and 10 points, respectively.
 
After Rochester led 3-2 in the opening two minutes, Brandeis jolted out to a comfortable 9-point lead following a 12-2 run. Zakheim made three driving layups in the paint to pace the Judges during the stretch which made the score 14-5 after five minutes had elapsed.
 
UR clawed within four, down 18-14, after McEachern his one 3-pointer on the night, but Brandeis quickly regained the 9-point lead after scoring seven of the next nine points, capped by a Zakheim triple.
 
David Ackles had a tip-in fall through, starting a 'Jackets 8-2 surge to get within three points this time, following a Jagodzinski 3-pointer with 4:43 left in the half.
 
Brandeis closed the half outscoring Rochester by five, taking an 8-point cushion into the locker room, sitting up 39-31 on the scoreboard.
 
After the Judges scored the opening basket of the second half, Rochester scored seven straight points, with Oprea, Jagodzinski and McEachern sinking shots to make the score 41-38 in favor of the Judges.
 
The visitors once again withstood the rally, maintaining a 6-point lead at 48-42 after Harris hit a layup at the 14-minute mark.
 
The next two and half minutes saw Rochester finally battle all the way back to take a 51-50 advantage at the midpoint of the half, attaining its first lead since being up 3-2. Back-to-back layups by Murray highlighted a 9-2 run for the Yellowjackets.
 
Three of Brandeis' next four baskets were 3-point shots, with a triple by Harris making the score 61-58 Judges with 4:31 left on the clock.
 
Rochester scored four straight though, regaining the lead as McEachern and Jagodzinski sank layups to pull the 'Jackets up one.
 
Rodl hit a basket at the other end, but Jagodzinski recorded a big offensive rebound for the Yellowjackets and calmly sank two free throws to give Rochester its lead right back.
 
On the ensuing Brandeis possession, Jake Bender missed a layup, but Adusei was there for one of the 15 Judges offensive rebounds on the night. His tip-in attempt fell through and gave Brandeis the lead for good.
 
UR was fouled on its next possession, but missed the front end of a one-and-one, thwarting its chance to regain the lead.
 
After a Brandeis miss at the other end, Adusei came up with a huge block on an Oprea 3-pointer keep the Yellowjackets behind on the scoreboard.
 
As the clock ticked under 30 seconds to play, another offensive rebound by Zakheim extended the Brandeis possession, forcing the Yellowjackets to foul. Adusei stepped to the line and sank both free throws to extend the lead to three.
 
UR's Bennett Kwiecinski was fouled and hit two free throws to trim the deficit back to one, but Adusei hit two more free throws for the Judges to respond and move the lead up to three
 
Rochester's last second heave at the buzzer missed, giving the Judges the three-point victory.
 
Up next, the Yellowjackets host UAA-leading and 2nd-ranked New York University on Sunday afternoon at 2 pm.