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Jake Knupp Leads No. 11 Washington University Past Brandeis 88-61

Jake Knupp Leads No. 11 Washington University Past Brandeis 88-61
Posted: Jan 22, 2017

From Washington University Athletics

Junior guard Jake Knupp filled up the stat sheet with 17 points, eight rebounds and six assists to lead the No. 11-ranked Washington University in St. Louis men's basketball team to an 88-61 win over Brandeis University in University Athletic Association (UAA) play Sunday in St. Louis.

WashU improved its overall record to 13-3, 5-0 in the conference, while Brandeis fell to 6-9, 2-3 in the UAA. The Bears have won six-straight games, their longest winning streak since the 2014-15 season.

Knupp was a perfect 6-of-6 from the field and 4-of-5 from the free- throw line in the win. Senior Michael Bregman added a career-best 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting, while junior forward Matt Highsmith (15) and senior forward Clinton Hooks (14) also scored in double figures.

WashU shot 52.5 percent (32-61) from the field, including 56.3 percent (18-32) in the second half. The Bears outrebounded Brandeis 41-29, and had a 20-10 advantage in points off turnovers.

Knupp was the story for the Bears in the first half scoring 12 points, and also picked up eight rebounds and five assists. WashU started fast, scoring the first nine points of the game, highlighted by a three-pointer by Bregman.

Knupp scored on a lay-up to extend the lead to 13-3 as WashU scored 11 of its first 13 points off Brandeis turnovers. The Bears cooled off from the field hitting just 3-of-13 from the field after starting 4-of-5.

Bregman drained another three and then scored on a fast-break lay-up on an assist from Knupp to make it 24-11. Knupp scored again on a lay-up after a steal.

WashU took a 40-29 lead to the half after shooting 48.3 percent (14-29) from the field. The Bears turned 11 Brandeis turnovers into 16 points.

Junior forward Andrew Sanders recorded back-to-back lay-ups to extend the advantage to 48-31, and then a three-pointer by Knupp pushed the advantage to 18 (53-35) with 14:30 to play. Hooks drilled a three-pointer from the wing to get the lead over 20 at 73-51.

Jordan Cooper had 23 points and seven rebounds to lead Brandeis. The Judges hit 7-of-26 from three-point range in the loss.

WashU concludes the first half of UAA play at Carnegie Mellon University on Friday, Jan. 27, and at Case Western Reserve University Sunday, Jan. 29.

BEAR NOTEBOOK: WashU leads the all-time series with Brandeis, 45-12 … The Bears are 5-2 at home this year, while Judges dropped to 1-5 on the road … WashU has won 10-straight conference games dating back to last year, the fourth-longest active winning streak in Division III … Highsmith went over 500 points for his career.