From Washington University Athletics
The No. 17-ranked Washington University in St. Louis men's basketball team picked up win No. 20 and secured a second-place finish in the University Athletic Association (UAA) standings with a 84-67 win over the University of Chicago on Saturday at the WU Field House in St. Louis.
Prior to the contest, Washington U. honored its four senior players Nick Burt, David Fatoki, Kent Lacob, Matt Palucki and senior manager Trevor Casson. This group has compiled an 85-21 (.802) overall record in their four seasons on the Danforth Campus with three-straight NCAA Tournament appearances and three-straight University Athletic Association (UAA) titles (2012, 2013, 2014).
Palucki led the Bears with 15 points, seven rebounds and four assists, as all four seniors scored in double figures. Burt recorded his eighth career double-double with 14 points and a career-high 13 rebounds, while Fatoki notched his sixth career double-double with 11 points and 10 assists.
Junior guard Luke Silverman-Lloyd added 11 points on 3-of-5 three-pointers, while Lacob had a career-best 10 points and three assists. Washington U. shot 54.5 percent (36-of-66) from the field, its sixth-straight game over 50 percent. The Bears had 24 assists and five turnovers in the victory.
Silverman-Lloyd hit back-to-back threes early in the contest to give the Bears an 8-3 lead, but eight-straight points gave Chicago its first lead at 11-10 with 13:24 to play. Chicago hit four of its first five three-pointers and led 14-10 but Fatoki hit a jumper and then a three to give the Bears a 15-14 lead.
Washington U. went on a 12-0 run midway through the first half to extend its lead to 37-26 with 3:44 to play before half. Sophomore forward Clinton Hooks had a jumper and a three during the decisive run.
The Bears scored the final six points of the half and took a 43-30 lead to the locker room. Washington U. shot 55.9 percent (19-of-34) from the field, and hit 5-of-11 three-pointers. Palucki had 11 points to lead the Bears, while Fatoki added nine points and six assists. Washington U. had 13 assists on 19 field goals.
Washington U. (20-5, 9-5 UAA) quickly got the lead up to 17 (51-34) on a floater from Silverman-Lloyd and a pair of free-throws from Fatoki. The two free-throws were the first made by either team. Back-to-lay-ups by Burt with less than 14 minutes to play made it a 20-point game at 59-39.
Chicago got the lead down to 18, but Washington U. put the game away with a 7-0 run as Lacob had a driving lay-up and Silverman-Lloyd added a three-pointer.
Chicago (16-9, 8-6 UAA) shot 33.3 percent (23-of-69) from the field, but stayed in the contest by hitting 12-of-32 three-pointers. Alex Voss (13 points), Collin Barthel (12), Jake Fenlon (12) and Jordan Smith (10) all scored in double figures.
Washington U. is seeking its 19th NCAA Division III Tournament appearance, and 22nd overall.
Bear Notebook: Washington U. leads the all-time series with Chicago, 48-19, and the Bears have won 13 of the last 18 meetings … Chicago was picked first in the UAA Preseason Coaches Poll, while Washington U. was picked third … The Bears are 18-0 when leading at the half and 10-0 when recording 20 or more assists … WashU posted an 9-1 record at home in 2014-15, and has a 104-13 (.889) record dating back to the 2006-07 season … Palucki passed Jim Barton (1954-57) and Sean Wallis (2005-10) into 13th on the all-time scoring list with 1,223 points … The win gave head coach Mark Edwards his 16th 20-win season in 34 years at Washington U., including the eighth in the last nine years.