Case Western Reserve University senior forward Umar Rashid's career-high 32-point effort led all players on Sunday afternoon, but it was not enough for the Spartans who suffered an 80-73 setback against sixth-ranked New York University at Horsburgh Gymnasium in Cleveland.

The loss dropped the Spartans to 5-11 overall on the season and to 1-4 in University Athletic Association play. The Violets claimed their third-straight win to remain atop the conference standings with a 4-1 league record and improved to 15-1 for the campaign.

Rashid did not check out of the game on Sunday, playing all 40 minutes and shooting 12-of-23 overall, four-of-eight from behind the three-point line, and four-of-four from the free throw line. He added a team-high nine rebounds, three assists, and two blocks during the game. Senior guard Sam Trunley was the only other Spartan to score in double figures, finishing the game with 15 points, six rebounds, two assists, and a steal.

CWRU trailed by six in the opening minutes of the game, but a three by Trunley with 15:42 left in the half tied the score at 10 apiece, and a three from sophomore forward Elvin Stowell with 14:32 remaining in the half gave the Spartans their first lead of the game, 13-12. After trading threes on the next two possessions, NYU went on an 8-0 run to take a 23-16 lead with 11:18 on the clock, its largest lead of the half. CWRU trailed 27-19 with 8:55 on the clock, but an 8-1 Spartan run, capped off by a layup by sophomore guard Charlie Fox, pulled CWRU within a point, 28-27, at the 6:34 mark. Despite remaining close, NYU remained ahead for the rest of the first half and took a 39-35 lead into the break.

NYU remained ahead in the game until a three from first-year forward Nolan Demski evened the score at 51-51 with 10:17 to play in the game. The Spartans could not take the lead, but the score stayed within a possession for the next five minutes, until the Violets increased their edge to five points, 66-61, with 4:59 to play. The Spartans remained within striking distance, and a layup by first-year guard Matthew Ellis with 55 seconds left made it a three-point game, 73-70. However, NYU was able to make seven of their eight free throw attempts over the final minute of the game to hold off the Spartans and secure the win.

CWRU finished the game shooting 36.6% (26-71) overall and 25.7% (9-35) from behind the three-point line, while NYU ended the contest with a 52.3% (23-44) mark from the floor, including 45.5% (5-11) from long range. The Spartans forced 11 turnovers in the contest while committing just four, and held a 17-7 edge in points off turnovers.

NYU's Brock Susko finished with 19 points, while Tristan How added a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds.

The Spartans will be on the road next weekend, traveling to face a pair of conference rivals. CWRU will take on Rochester at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, January 31 in Rochester, New York, followed by a 1:30 p.m. tip-off against Emory in Atlanta on Sunday, February 7.

Spartan Notes

• Rashid's 32-point effort was the second-straight game that a Spartan has scored 30 or more after Trunley posted a 31-point effort against Brandeis on Friday night. It marked the fourth game of 30 or more points this season by a Spartan, with Trunley recording the other three.

• Rashid surpassed his previous career high of 26 points scored at the University of Chicago to clinch the first UAA Championship in program history in 2023.

• Rashid also added two blocks on Sunday and now has 32 for the season, tying him with former Spartan Mason Conrad for the 13th-most in a season in program history.

• Trunley's 15-point effort on Sunday gives him 975 career points. He is 25 points away from becoming the 21st player in program history with 1,000 career points.

• CWRU fell to 24-40 all-time against NYU with Sunday's loss.