The Middlebury men’s basketball team experienced a challenging start to the UAA Challenge, culminating in a 72-58 defeat to the University of Rochester. As part of the tournament, the Panthers hosted a pod of six teams, alongside Brandeis, who hosted three other squads.
It was the Yellowjackets who took an early 4-0 lead, steadily extending it to a double-digit advantage of 22-12 after a three-pointer from Tomiwa Adetosoye with 5:52 remaining in the first half. However, Middlebury staged a determined comeback, concluding the half with 14 consecutive points and securing a 26-22 lead. Sam Stevens played a crucial role in this turn of events, bookending the streak with a pair of baskets.
Maintaining a slight lead in the early stages of the second half, Middlebury saw Rochester draw level at 41 points apiece, marking the midway point of the frame following a 4-0 spurt. Responding decisively, Middlebury orchestrated a 5-1 burst, spearheaded by Kuba Cwalina’s three-point shot, resulting in a 46-42 advantage at the 8:22 mark. Nonetheless, the Yellowjackets countered with a 14-4 run, propelling them ahead at 57-50.
In the closing minutes, Middlebury attempted to narrow the gap with a jumper from Cwalina, reducing the deficit to 59-54. Nonetheless, Rochester’s strength proved insurmountable, as they concluded the game with a 13-4 run, ultimately securing their 72-58 victory with a flawless four-for-four performance from the free-throw line.
The contest saw Kuba Cwalina deliver an exceptional performance, achieving a career-high of 10 points. Notably, this game marked only the fourth meeting between the two teams.
Looking ahead, Middlebury is set to face the University of Chicago on Sunday at 5:00 p.m., while the Yellowjackets are slated to compete against Hamilton in the first game of the day, commencing at 1:00 p.m.