M. b-ball moves atop UAA

The men's basketball team is making the sport look like child's play.

The Violets had no trouble earning two more victories this past weekend at Coles Sports Center as they manhandled both Emory University and Case Western Reserve University.

Yesterday's game against the Spartans showcased the Violets' defensive skills, as NYU held Case Western to 29.4 percent shooting from the field. Sophomore center Mike Magee set the tone for the Violets, as he held the Spartans' top scorer to eight points.

"I told Mike to give [Spartan forward Carson Oren] a little more space and make him shoot over his hand," Head Coach Joe Nesci said. "We wanted [Magee] to play a more active guy and someone else to play their post player."

The strategy paid off, as the Violets ultimately shut down Case Western's offense. Conversely, the Violets' put together their own offensive charge, with four of their five starters scoring in double-digits. Junior Mike DeCorso led all scorers with 19 points, followed by junior Jason Boone with 16 points and eight rebounds.

The defensive mismatch between Boone and his opponent allowed Boone to post up several times during the game.

"Physically he's not a stronger guy," Boone said. "Our philosophy is to work it inside early and often, and ultimately we knew he wouldn't match up."

Nesci praised Boone for his hard work on the floor, a characteristic he has demonstrated throughout the course of the season.

"Jason made some good moves today," Nesci said. "He's a good post player and he's always able to finish strong."

The Violets shot 57 percent from the field, including six of 12 from beyond the arc in the second half. The Spartans were not as efficient, hitting only 20 of 68 shots and one three pointer.

The win moved the Violets into a first-place tie in the University Athletic Association division at 5-2. Overall, the Violets are 16-2.

Nesci noted that his philosophy has never been to look ahead to the big picture or become wrapped up in the standings, but rather to approach each game with the same amount of importance.

"Our conference is real good," Nesci said. "You have to win every game, and whatever happens, happens."

The Violets' offense was the story in last Friday's game against Emory, as DeCorso netted a career-high 30 points en route to a 97-64 win. DeCorso scored 23 first-half points, shooting nine for 10 from the field and hitting all three of his three-point attempts.

"I wish we could shoot like that every night," Nesci said.

DeCorso was modest about his performance, putting the team's interests ahead of his career night.

"All I was worried about was winning the game," DeCorso said. "We were making shots and they were overplaying us, so we were able to move the ball inside and out."

The crowd was disappointed to see DeCorso pulled out of the game toward the end of the first half, but Nesci stressed that it was important for his player to sit and catch his breath.

"It's a long game," Nesci said. "I needed to rest him."

The Violets shot 67 percent for the game and outrebounded the Eagles 38 to 24, while holding them to 38 percent from the field.

NYU's two wins this weekend demonstrate that they are a legitimate threat not only within the UAA division but also throughout the entire NCAA Division III field.

"We're 5-2 at the halfway point," Boone said. "We're excited for the second half of the season and we're excited to be here."

The Violets next game will be held Friday, Feb. 3, against Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m.