NEW YORK, N.Y. – A cold-shooting second half proved costly as the University of Chicago men's basketball team lost 85-68 at New York University on Sunday.

The No. 21-ranked Maroons dropped to 11-5 overall and 3-2 in conference action. The Violets ran their record to 12-4 and 3-2 in the University Athletic Association (UAA).

NYU pulled out to leads of 8-2 and 20-12 with an efficient offensive attack. Junior guard Scott Herlihy got UChicago going with back-to-back three-pointers and a subsequent layup by junior forward Nate Brooks tied the score at 20-20.

The Maroons found their most success shooting from beyond the arc, making 11 of 18 three-pointers in the first half (61.1 percent). Herlihy and junior guard Jordan Smith led the way with four treys each and totaled 26 points. UChicago closed out the half on a 15-4 run to take a 47-44 lead into halftime. Smith and Brooks combined for 13 points in that time.

However, UChicago's hot hand cooled precipitously in the second half. The visitors went 0-for-9 from three-point range and shot 31.0 percent from the field overall. Free throws were also a struggle at 25.0 percent (3-for-12).

After the Maroons got within one point at 52-51, the Violets steadily pulled away with points in the paint and some long-range shooting of their own. A 13-3 run made the score 80-64 and NYU finished off the win. The home team made 6 of 11 from beyond the arc in the second half (54.5 percent).

UChicago finished with a 43-39 edge in rebounding, but NYU owned points in the paint 38-20. Smith's 20 points led the team in scoring for the fourth-straight game.

UChicago Team Stats & Leaders
Field-goal Percentage – 37.7 percent (23-61)
Three-point Percentage – 40.7 percent (11-27)
Free-throw Percentage – 42.3 percent (11-26)
Jordan Smith (Guard, Jr.) – 20 points, 5 rebounds
Scott Herlihy (Guard, Jr.) – 12 points
Nate Brooks (Forward, Jr.) – 6 points, 10 rebounds

NYU Team Stats & Leaders
Field-goal Percentage – 50.8 percent (31-61)
Three-point Percentage – 50.0 percent (11-22)
Free-throw Percentage – 57.1 percent (12-21)
Hakeem Harris – 24 points
Evan Kupferberg – 22 points, 5 rebounds

NEXT GAME:

• Friday, January 30 – Case Western Reserve University at UChicago, 8 PM