From Washington University Athletics
Juniors Kevin Kucera and Andrew Sanders each recorded double-doubles as the No. 6-ranked Washington University in St. Louis men's basketball team remained perfect in conference play with a 93-80 win over Carnegie Mellon University Friday at the WU Field House in St. Louis.
WashU improved its overall record to 16-3, 8-0 in the University Athletic Association (UAA), while Carnegie Mellon dropped to 10-9, 4-4 in the UAA. The Bears have won 13-straight UAA games dating back to last year, the second-longest active conference winning streak in NCAA Division III.
Sanders poured in 26 points and added 10 rebounds to record his first double-double of the season and 13th of his career. Kucera picked up his fourth career double-double with 10 points and 10 assists.
WashU hit five of its first six shots from the field and had an early 10-6 advantage. Junior Matt Highsmith scored four-straight points off the bench to make it 19-16, and then a jumper by sophomore Marcus Meyerand a lay-up by Kucera pushed the lead to 23-16.
Junior Jake Knupp highlighted a 7-0 run with a three-pointer from the corner and a lay-up to give the Bears a 30-18 lead. Kucera took over the final 37 seconds with five points as WashU had a 46-30 lead at half.
The Bears shot 65.4 percent (17-of-26) from the field, and hit 3-of-6 from three-point range. WashU's bench was 7-of-7 from the floor and had 20 points in the first half.
Carnegie Mellon outscored WashU 20-10 to start the second half, and cut the lead to six (56-50) with 12:22 left after a bucket by Zach Howarth. Kucera capped a 10-4 run by WashU with a three-pointer to get the lead back to double figures (68-56). The Bears were 16-of-19 from the free-throw line in the second half.
Highsmith tied his career-high with 18 points on 10-of-11 free-throw shooting, while senior Michael Bregman (13 points) and Knupp (11) also scored in double figures. WashU shot a season-high 59.3 percent (32-of-54) from the field, and was 25-of-33 from the free-throw line.
Jack Serbin (18 points), Ryan Maha (15), Chris Shkil (13), Colin McNeil (12) and Howarth (11) scored in double figures for Carnegie Mellon, who hit just 4-of-20 from three-point range in the loss.
BEAR NOTEBOOK: WashU leads the all-time series with Carnegie Mellon 49-9 … The Bears are 6-2 at home this year … WashU has won 10-straight games, their longest winning streak since the 2014-15 season … The senior class picked up its 75th win … Kucera is one point shy of 500 for his career … WashU is 15-1 when outrebounding its opponent … There was 47 combined fouls called in the game … WashU's bench outscored Carnegie Mellon 34-16.