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No. 13 Bears Down Fontbonne 103-64 in Wydown Showdown

No. 13 Bears Down Fontbonne 103-64 in Wydown Showdown
Posted: Dec 06, 2016

From Washington University Athletics

The No. 13-ranked Washington University in St. Louis men's basketball team rebounded from its first loss of the season with a 103-64 win over Fontbonne University in the Wydown Showdown Tuesday in St. Louis. 

WashU improved to 6-1 with the win, while Fontbonne dropped to 1-4.

The Bears scored a season-high 103 points and shot 52.1 percent (37-of-71) from the field. WashU also connected on a season-high 10 three-pointers. 

Senior Clinton Hooks scored a season-high 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting, while juniors Andrew Sanders and David Schmelter added 12 points apiece. Junior Kevin Kucera added 10 points and eight assists, while freshman DeVaughn Rucker had a career-best 10 points in eight minutes off the bench.

Junior Jake Knupp added nine points, a season-high six rebounds and four assists, while freshman Matt Nester dished out a career-best six assists.

WashU and Fontbonne exchanged baskets through the opening seven minutes of play, but it was the Griffins who had the early 26-21 lead with 10:13 to play after a three by Kody Ettinger. Fontbonne hit 5-of-8 three-pointers to start the contest.

After a full-timeout by Fontbonne, junior Matt Highsmith hit a pair of jumpers to get the lead down to one (26-25). The Griffins took their largest lead of the game at 32-26 with 6:51 left after Ettinger converted on two free-throws.

Knupp ignited a run for WashU after a pair of steals and two buckets as the Bears scored 11-straight points to make it 37-32 and force a Fontbonne timeout. WashU continued to pour it on just before half, ending the first 20 minutes on a 26-4 run.

WashU took a 52-36 lead to the locker room after shooting 48.7 percent (19-of-39) from the field and hitting 10-of-11 from the foul line. Schmelter had 12 points in the half.

The lead grew to 26 points (68-42) after a three-pointer by Hooks with 14:58 to play. The Bears shot 52.9 percent (18-of-34) in the second half, and hit 6-of-9 threes.

Ettinger lead Fontbonne with 14 points, while Kris McCann added 10. The Griffins hit 11 a season-high three-pointers in the loss. 

WashU returns to action with a road game at Central College (5-1) on Saturday, Dec. 10. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. in Pella, Iowa.

BEAR NOTEBOOK: WashU is 17-1 all-time against Fontbonne, and has won each of the last 15 meetings … The Bears dished out a season-high 29 assists, and outrebounded Fontbonne 46-30 … WashU hit 19-of-22 from the foul line … The Bears have outrebounded six of its seven opponents this season … Sanders has scored in double figures six times and is 12 points shy of 500 for his career.