BOXSCORE | CUMULATIVE STATS | D&C STORY
ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Third-seeded Nazareth went toe-to-toe with the nation's top-ranked Division III men's basketball team for more than 35 minutes Saturday in the championship game of the 42nd annual JPMorgan Chase Scholarship Tournament. Ultimately, the wear and tear that was summarized in a decisive 38-16 rebounding advantage for the host University of Rochester took its toll on the Golden Flyers, who fell to the top-seeded Yellowjackets, 87-75.

Nazareth received a team-high 21 points from sophomore Corey McAdam and 20 points from senior Joe Canori, but it wasn't enough as UR claimed its second straight championship and ninth overall. Ranked first nationally by d3hoops.com, Rochester improved to 12-0. Nazareth, which resides in the 'also receiving votes' category, dropped to 10-3. McAdam and Canori each made the all-tournament team.

After close wins over RIT and Geneseo in the first two rounds of the tournament, the Golden Flyers appeared poised to pull off an upset as they were shooting for their first championship since 2003. The teams matched baskets for much of the first half with Nazareth gaining a one-point advantage, 36-35, on a jumper by McAdam before the first-half horn sounded.

Statistically glaring in the first half was Rochester's 21-7 rebounding advantage that was offset by 16 Yellowjacket turnovers.

The rebounding numbers didn't improve much for Nazareth in the second half either as UR seniors Uche Ndubizu and Jon Onyiriuka continued to dominate. Ndubizu, the tournament MVP, finished with 22 points and 14 rebounds while Onyiriuka contributed 10 points and eight rebounds.

The Yellowjackets came out shooting in the second half to take the lead. All-tournament team selection Robert Dominiak (22 points) connected on a three-pointer to give Rochester a 38-36 lead. Onyiriuka's  basket with 15:15 to play gave Rochester a six-point lead, 49-43. Nazareth began chipping away at its deficit as McAdam and Tyler Smith connected with two-point baskets. Freshman Brian Gebhardt hit a three-pointer with 13:02 to play to cut Rochester's lead to 53-52. Canori gave Nazareth a one-point lead on the Golden Flyers' next possession with a layup.

Dan Milbrand made a layup on Rochester's next possession to reclaim the lead for the Yellowjackets with 12:06 to play in the game. Nazareth kept the Yellowjackets' lead to one possession for the next four and a half minutes before McAdam connected on a layup to give the Golden Flyers the lead with 7:31 to play in the second half.

Rochester answered with consecutive baskets to take a four-point lead after Dominiak hit a three-pointer with 6:49 left in the game. Free throw shots from McAdam and a layup from Canori tied the game 66-66 with 5:16 to play, but the Yellowjackets took the lead for good one their next possession as Uche Ndubizu made two free throws. Rochester then went on a 12-4 run in the next two minutes to take a 80-70 lead with 2:14 left in the game.

Rochester shot a torrid 58.3% from the field for the game to pull away from Nazareth who shot 49.2%. Smith contributed 15 points to Nazareth's attack while senior Leon Hill and sopohomore Rayvon Higdon each added five points.

The Golden Flyers resume their Empire 8 schedule Tuesday, January 15 at 8 p.m. against rival St. John Fisher.