From Washington University Athletics
The No. 6-ranked Washington University in St. Louis men's basketball team rebounded from its first loss of the season with an impressive 80-67 win over No. 5-ranked Emory University Friday at the WU Field House in St. Louis.
Washington U. improves to 12-1, 1-1 in the University Athletic Association (UAA), while Emory had its seven-game winning streak snapped and dropped its record to 11-2, 1-1 in the UAA.
Senior point guard David Fatoki filled up the stat sheet with 25 points, nine assists, seven rounds, two blocks and two steals, while senior forward Matt Palucki recorded his seventh double-double of the season with 15 points and a career-high 17 rebounds.
Junior forward Mitch Styczynski scored in double figures for the fourth-straight game with 13 points and seven rebounds, while senior forward Nick Burt recorded his third career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Washington U. outrebounded Emory, 56-44, and connected on 53.3 percent (8-15) from three-point range. The Bears shot 46.7 percent (28-60) from the field for the game, including 62.5 percent (15-24) in the second half.
The game was fast-paced as the Bears raced out to a 21-10 lead with 13:17 to play behind the play of Fatoki. He had seven points and three assists in the first seven minutes of play.
Washington's U.'s defense limited Emory to 6-of-22 shooting from the field in the opening 10 minutes, including 2-of-10 from beyond the arc. The Eagles trimmed the advantage to seven (27-20) after two free-throws by Jonathan Terry, but Washington U. ended the half on a 11-2 run to take a 38-22 advantage at half.
Fatoki had 14 points, six rebounds and four assists in the opening half, while Styczynski added seven point and six boards. Palucki was limited to five points, but pulled down 10 rebounds. The Bears outrebounded Emory, 38-19, and limited the Eagles to 23.1 percent (9-39) shooting in the opening half.
Washington U. quickly took its largest lead of the game at 48-27 with 17:05 left after an 8-0 run by the Bears. Palucki had back-to-back buckets and six of the first 10 points for the Bears in the second half.
Fatoki continued his hot shooting as he connected on a couple of threes midway through the second half, and his second three made it 60-41 with 11:56 to play. Emory would get the lead down to 11 (70-59) on three triples by Will Trawick in a span of 90 seconds, but that would be as close as the Eagles would get.
Trawick (15 points), Josh Schattie (13) and Foster (14) scored in double figures for Emory, which was limited to 33.3 percent (26-of-78) shooting from the field. The Eagles connected on just 8-of-32 from three-point range.
Washington U. returns to action at home Sunday at Noon against the University of Rochester. The Yellowjackets dropped their seventh-straight game with an 88-81 loss at University of Chicago Friday.
Bear Notebook: Washington University leads the all-time series with Emory, 45-10, and the Bears have won the last seven meetings … Head coach Mark Edwards appeared in his 1,000th game at Washington U. … Burt started his 40th-straight game for the Bears … The Bears are 4-0 at home this season, and has a 99-12 (.892) record since 2006.