CHICAGO – Despite a fast start in the opening half, the University of Rochester men's basketball team fell in its road finale by an 89-68 score at the University of Chicago on Sunday afternoon at the Ratner Athletics Center.
 
The loss drops Rochester to 7-17 on the year and 1-12 in UAA play, while Chicago improves to 17-7 overall and is 8-5 in the University Athletic Association.
 
To open the game, the Yellowjackets were able to make five of their first seven shots from the field, jumping out to a 12-7 lead after three and a half minutes. Nate Sock hit back-to-back 3-pointers for the 'Jackets, with Bennett Kwiecinski adding a pair of buckets in the stretch.
 
UR's lead unfortunately didn't last long, as the Maroons scored seven straight points to take a 14-12 lead after Eamonn Kenah hit a triple after five minutes had elapsed.
 
Two free throws from Logan Jagodzinski and a jump shot from Justin Odibo regained Rochester's advantage, and the teams stayed within striking distance of one another for the next several minutes.
 
After Kwiecinski hit a jumper in the paint to make the score 35-31 Chicago with 3:15 left in the half, the Maroons went on an 9-0 spurt to vault in front by 13 points with under a minute to play.
 
Corvin Oprea made two free throws for the final points of the half, with UC heading into the locker room up 11, at 44-33.
 
After intermission, the lead remained double-digits and eventually extended out two 20 points after just three minutes following a second 9-0 rush from Chicago. Kenah scored five of his 18 points on the day in the run and added in one of his game-high four 3-point field goals.
 
Oprea hit five straight points for UR to cut into the lead, but Chicago answered right back to regain the 20-point cushion.
 
With the clock ticking under five minutes to play, Kwiecinski hit a jumper to kickstart a late 7-3 run, moving the deficit to just 12 following a Jagodzinski 3-pointer and full-court press steal and layup by Bernard Dushie Jr.
 
Chicago withstood the rally though, scoring the next ten points over 93 seconds to put the game away.
 
Kwiecinski finished as UR's leading scorer with 15 points and 5 rebounds but was limited to just 18 minutes after getting in foul trouble and eventually fouling out of the contest. They Murray added in ten points and three steals for the 'Jackets.
 
Oprea scored nine points, while Sock ended with eight points, including a pair of 3-pointers.
 
Joe Berry finished with a game-high 20 points for the Maroons, ending 7-for-7 from the free throw line. After Kenah's 18 points, Daniel Cochran piped in 17 points while grabbing eight rebounds, with Thomas Kurowski chipping in 12 points, 6 assists and 4 rebounds.
 
Chicago was efficient from the field, making 57% of its shots (31-54) while hitting over 40% from 3-point range. Rochester ended the game shooting 41% (22-54) overall and made just 27% (6-22) from distance. The Maroons held a 35-21 advantage on the glass.
 
Rochester completes its regular season next Saturday at noon, hosting Emory University at the Palestra. UR's graduating seniors and grad students will be honored with a pre-game Senior Day ceremony.