#23 CHICAGO 73, CASE 77...
CLEVELAND, OH (February 9, 2007) - Case Western Reserve University could not break its nine-game conference losing streak tonight, dropping a heart-breaker to 23rd-ranked University of Chicago, 77-73, in a University Athletic Association men's basketball game at Chicago.
Case (4-17, 0-10 UAA) played well in the first half, having a 43-34 lead at intermission. Junior center Mason Conrad (Tarpon Springs, FL-pictured) scored 10 of Case's first 13 points as the Spartans took an early 13-10 lead. After Chicago (17-4, 8-2 UAA) tied the game at 17, the Spartans went on a 10-0 run, which included two three-pointers by sophomore guard Steve Young (St. Louis, MO). Young led the Spartans with 14 points in the first period, making 5 of his 7 shots, including 4 of 5 from behind the arc.
The Spartans continued to play well at the outset of the second half, increasing their lead to 57-44 on a dunk by Conrad with 14:50 remaining. Chicago followed the dunk with an 8-0 run, reducing Case's lead to five points. Chicago continued to reduce the Spartans' advantage with three-pointers by Jesse Meyer and Nate Hainje, until Hainje momentarily put Chicago in the lead, 68-67, with a lay-up at the 4:51 mark. Both teams traded the lead over the ensuing four minutes.
With 44 seconds left, Chicago's Jake Pancratz made a jumper off the backboard to tie the game at 73. On Chicago's next possession, Pancratz scored another basket on a lay-up, giving Chicago the lead, 75-73. Chicago's Jason Vismantas then fouled Case's Steve Young with 4.5 seconds remaining. Young's first foul shot of the one-and-one lay tantalizingly on the rim before falling off. Hainje grabbed the rebound for Chicago and was fouled, then made both of Chicago's free throws to preserve the victory.
Young led the Spartans with 19 points and 8 assists. Conrad added 16 points, Matt Cannan (Dublin, OH) 15, and Rob Skuski (Russell, OH) led Case with 8 rebounds. The Spartans shot 61.5 percent from the floor in the loss.
The Spartans will next be in action on Sunday at 12 p.m. (CST), when they travel to St. Louis to face Washington University.
Box Score
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