Coming in as the number two ranked team in Division III basketball polls, Brandeis Men’s Basketball hoped to walk out of Rochester having touched true greatness and knocking down number one ranked, undefeated Rochester. Could the Judges ascend the peak and become number one? This was the question many contemplated, even appearing as a poll question on d3hoops.com last week.
As they struggled throughout the game, it became clear that they could not. They did manage to put together a come back that fell just short, but Rochester remained number one with a 74-68 win.
“They’re big and strong inside,” Coach Brian Meehan explained. “When you have inside and outside scoring; it is hard to pick and choose which way you want to stop them.”
Brandeis opened the game well and took a quick 12-5 lead, but Rochester showed why they are considered the best with a 20-7 run over the next seven minutes and the first half ended with the Yellowjackets ahead 40-32.
The second half was a battle of runs. Brandeis opened the second half with a 16-9 run to climb within one, but Rochester went on a run of its own, picking up eight of the next nine baskets to take a 10 point lead with just less than three minutes left. The Judges though refused to just say “die” and a 10-2 run brought them within a basket. Alas, would not let Brandeis come closer, as Rochester made all six of their final three throws and finished with the victory.
Guard Kevin Olson ’09 led the offense with 16 points as Coach Meehan gave him the start in hopes of taking advantage of the better match-up against Rochester’s big guards. Unfortunately, only four of those points came in the second half. Joe Coppens ’07 had 10 points in the game and Andre Roberson ’10 provided a second half spark off the bench, picking up 12 of his 14 points in the second half. Stephen Hill ’08 led the team against the glass with eight boards. Brandeis shot 50% from the field but were only 4 of 12 from the three point arc and Rochester neutralized leading scorer Terrell Hollins ’10, holding him to one field goal.
“Got to give them credit, they did a good job stopping him,” was all Meehan had to say about Hollins’ performance.
Rochester’s attack was led by forward Mike Chmielowiec with 14 points, Yellowjacket guard Robert Dominiak had 12 points and Jeff Juron had 10 points off the bench and a game high nine assists. Three other Yellowjackets had nine points each. Rochester shot 60% from the field, the highest percentage Brandeis has surrendered to an opponent, and they were also 64% from three point land.
The Judges experienced no drop in the polls, though, thanks in large part to their solid 60-48 victory over then #24 ranked Carnegie Mellon. Terrell Hollins had a good game with 18 points and three rebounds, while Olson came off the bench to provide 11 points. Brandeis shot 55.2% in the first half to build the lead from which they wouldn’t look.
“In league play, it’s about winning game by game,” Coach Meehan stated when asked to explain how important Friday was, “If they didn’t take care of business Friday, Saturday’s game would have meant even less.”
Brandeis retakes the home court tonight, facing Chicago at 8 p.m. and Washington University at noon on Sunday.
The Judges have almost reached the top; it would be a shame if they plummeted when they are so close to becoming number one.
