February 19, 2006

Chicago Falls at Brandeis

WALTHAM, Mass. -- Steve DeLuca led four Brandeis University players in double figures with a game-high 18 points as the Judges defeated the University of Chicago men's basketball team 68-51 in University Athletic Association play Sunday at Auerbach Arena.

Brandeis (13-11 overall, 6-7 UAA) jumped out to an 18-2 lead and maintained the advantage the rest of the contest.

Chicago (14-10, 7-6) cut the Judges' lead to 34-30 at the break, but Brandeis outscored the Maroons 8-2 to start the second half. Florian Rexhepi's layup with 16:15 to go put the Judges ahead 42-32. Rexhepi finished with 13 points and nine assists.

A three-pointer by sophomore Nate Hainje (Brownsburg, Ind./ Brownsburg) got Chicago within five points, 45-40, at the 12:56 mark, but the Judges then used an 8-0 run to put the game out of reach. Brandeis held a double-digit lead for the final 10:14.

Hainje paced the Maroons with 13 points and seven boards, while junior Brandon Woodhead (Lincoln, Neb./ East) added 11 points and three assists. Hainje's 13-point effort marked his second straight double-digit output and fifth in his last six outings.

The Maroons shot just 30.6% from the field, including a 4-for-25 (16.0%) performance from three-point range. Brandeis shot 56.3% for the game and connected on eight of 16 three-point tries.

Kwame Graves-Fulgham and Joe Coppens collected 13 and 12 points, respectively, as Brandeis snapped a three-game losing streak.

Chicago lost for the first time in four games.

With the setback, the Maroons were eliminated from UAA title contention. Carnegie Mellon University and Washington (Mo.) University won on Sunday to improve to 9-4 in league play entering the final conference game this Saturday, Feb. 25. Chicago hosts Washington at the Ratner Center at 3:00 p.m.

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