February 2, 2007

Chicago Gains Share of UAA Lead

WALTHAM, Mass. -- Led by senior Brandon Woodhead's (Lincoln, Neb./ East) 16 points, the 19th-ranked University of Chicago men's basketball team defeated Brandeis University 74-69 Friday at Auerbach Arena to move into a tie for first place in the University Athletic Association standings.

With their seventh consecutive victory, the Maroons improved to 16-3 overall and 7-1 in UAA play. Chicago now shares the top spot in the Association with Washington (Mo.) University, which dropped a 73-57 decision Friday at New York University. The Maroons face NYU in Manhattan on Sunday.

Chicago jumped out to an early 16-4 advantage and took a 43-37 lead into the locker room at the break.

The Maroons built their largest lead of the night, 52-39, on a three-pointer by junior Matt Corning (Wauconda, Ill./ Mundelein) with 15:16 left in the contest.

A basket by senior Jesse Meyer (Omaha, Neb./ Bellevue West) gave Chicago its final double-digit edge, 57-47, at the 9:40 mark. Meyer scored 12 points on the night.

Brandeis (13-6, 3-5) then scored the next 10 points to tie the game before taking its first, and only, lead of the contest, 60-59, on Steve DeLuca's three-point basket with 5:09 remaining. DeLuca led all scorers with 19 points.

With the game tied at 62-62, junior Nate Hainje (Brownsburg, Ind./ Brownsburg) put the Maroons ahead to stay when he converted a three-point play at the 3:19 mark. Hainje finished with 11 points, marking his 10th consecutive double-digit performance.

Chicago hit seven of nine free throw attempts in the game's final 3:05 to seal the victory.

Making his first career start, senior Jason Vismantas (Highland Park, Ill./ Highland Park) scored 13 points and grabbed seven rebounds for Chicago.

Five different players hit multiple three-pointers as the Maroons connected on 10 of 27 attempts (37%) from three-point distance. Chicago committed just nine turnovers, while forcing 15 Brandeis miscues.

Joe Coppens added 15 points for the Judges, who lost their third in a row.

Box Score