From Washington University Athletics
The No. 20-ranked Washington University in St. Louis men's basketball team scored the first 11 points of the game as the Bears posted a 68-61 win at No. 18 Augustana College (Ill.) Sunday in Rock Island, Ill.
WashU improved to 4-0 with the win, while Augustana fell to 4-1. WashU has won nine-straight games dating back to last year, the second longest winning streak in all of college basketball (Villanova, 11).
Junior David Schmelter had a season-high 13 points, eight rebounds and tied a career-high with four blocks to lead the Bears. Senior Michael Bregman added a season-high 12 points, while junior Kevin Kucera had 12 points and a season-high seven rebounds and seven assists.
WashU shot 50 percent (26-of-52) from the field, and hit 11-of-15 from the foul line. The Bears also outrebounded Augie 36-34.
WashU jumped out to the 11-0 lead in the opening six minutes of play behind its defensive play. The Bears limited Augie to 0-for-5 shooting with five turnovers. Bregman had five of the 11 points, including a three from the wing.
Augustana trimmed the advantage to one (17-16) after a 10-2 run, but senior Clinton Hooks drained a three from the wing to make it 20-16.
The Vikings got the lead down to one for the second time, but WashU answered back with a 9-2 run to the lead back to eight (29-21). Hooks canned his second three of the game to cap the run.
WashU took a 29-24 lead to halftime after limiting Augustana to 28.0 percent (7-of-28) shooting with seven turnovers. Bregman led all scorers with seven points.
The Vikings scored the first four points of the second half to get within one, but Bregman again hit a key jumper. WashU took a seven-point lead after a 6-0 run, and then a three-pointer from the corner by Bregman made it 40-32 with 14:31 to play.
Back-to-back 15-foot jumpers from junior Matt Highsmith got the lead into double figures, and then a dunk by Schmelter gave WashU a 54-40 lead with less than eight minutes to play. The lead grew to 17 (61-45) with 3:19 to play after a three-pointer by junior Jake Knupp.
WashU limited Augustana to a season-low 32.1 percent (18-of-56) shooting from the field, including 6-of-16 from three-point range. Augie came into Sunday's contest averaging 87.3 points per game.
Nolan Ebel (13 points), Dylan Sortillo (13), A.J. Dollmeyer (10) and Chrishawn Orange (10) scored in double figures for Augustana.
BEAR NOTEBOOK: WashU and Augustana have split 10 all-time meetings … The Bears are off to a 4-0 start for the fifth-straight season … WashU is one of 76 remaining unbeaten teams in NCAA Division III.