From Washington University Athletics
The Washington University in St. Louis men's basketball team secured its school-record 32nd-straight winning season with an 88-62 victory at Brandeis University Friday at Red Auerbach Arena in Waltham, Mass.
The Bears shot a season-high 66.1 percent (37-of-56) from the field, and hit 7-of-13 from three-point range. WashU outrebounded Brandeis 41-17, and recorded 22 assists on 37 field goals.
Junior forward Clinton Hooks scored a career-high 26 points on 10-of-14 shooting from the field, while sophomore forward Andrew Sanders had 18 points (9-12 FG) and six rebounds and sophomore center David Schmelter (7-for-7 FG) recorded his third career double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
Sophomore point guard Kevin Kucera also recorded a double-double with 10 points and a career-high 10 assists, while sophomore guard Jake Knupp added 10 points and a career-high seven rebounds off the bench.
WashU won its third-straight game to improve to 13-10, 5-7 in the University Athletic Association (UAA), while Brandeis dropped to 9-14, 3-9 in the UAA.
Head coach Mark Edwards picked up career win number 640 on Friday, moving him into 12th place on the all-time NCAA Division III list. Edwards is 640-283 (.693) in 35 seasons at WashU.
The Bears hit 7-of-11 from the field to start the contest as Hooks and Schmelter combined to score 14 of the first 16 points. Schmelter scored on an open lay-up to give WashU the early 16-13 advantage.
Hooks continued to have the hot hand as he ignited a 12-0 run with a three-pointer and a pair of free-throws to make it 32-18 with 7:13 to play before half. Hooks hit hit first five shots from the field and had 14 of the first 25 points for WashU.
Schmelter recorded back-to-back thunderous dunks as the Bears gained at 36-22 lead. On his second dunk, he went around a defender from the top of the key before throwing home an uncontested flush.
WashU shot 64.5 percent (20-of-31) from the field in the first half as Hooks (14 points) and Schmelter (13 points) were a combined 11-for-11. The Bears outrebounded Brandeis 21-10 and had a 7-0 advantage in points off turnovers.
Hooks continued to scorch the nets and he scored on a fast-break lay-up and then drained his third three of the game to make it 55-30 and force another BU timeout. The Bears hit their first six shots en route to shooting 68 percent (17-of-25) from the field in the second half.
Jordan Cooper (12) and Tim Reale (11) scored in double figures for Brandeis, who last its fifth-straight game.
WashU continues its East Coast swing with a road contest at New York University on Sunday, Feb. 21, at Noon (ET).
BEAR NOTEBOOK: WashU leads the all-time series with Brandeis, 44-12, and the Bears have won the last four meetings in Waltham … The Bears are 11-2 when leading at half … The 88 points allowed by Brandeis is a season high … WashU had a 54-26 advantage in the paint … Senior Luke Silverman-Lloyd did not hit a three-pointer for the first time this season.