From Washington University Athletics
The No. 6-ranked Washington University in St. Louis men's basketball team used a 19-0 run in the first half to build a 20-point halftime lead as the Bears recorded an 84-56 win over Brandeis University in University Athletic Association (UAA) play Friday at the WU Field House in St. Louis.
WashU won its third-straight game to improve to 11-2, 2-0 in the UAA, while Brandeis dropped its third-straight contest and fell to 4-9, 0-2 in the UAA.
Senior forward Andrew Sanders had 16 points and seven rebounds, while senior guard Kevin Kucera added 14 points and eight assists. Freshman guard Jack Nolan (12 points, 5-of-7 FG) and senior forward Matt Highsmith (11 points) also scored in double figures for the Bears.
WashU shot 56.4 percent (31-of-55) from the field in the win, and outrebounded Brandeis 48-26. The Bears turned 14 offensive rebounds into a 14-4 advance in second-chance points.
Trailing 7-4 early in the first half, the Bears went on a 19-0 run to build a commanding 23-7 lead with 11:41 left. Highsmith had seven points during the run, including a three-pointer that forced a timeout by Brandeis.
WashU took a 43-23 lead to the locker room after shooting 55.6 percent (15-of-27) from the field. Highsmith had 11 points and Sanders added 10. The Bears outrebounded Brandeis 24-12, and had a 7-2 advantage on second-chance points.
Brandeis opened the second half on a 14-3 run to trim the lead to 46-37, and then Nolan came in and hit a jumper to get the lead back into double figures. Nolan's jumper ignited a 13-3 run to make it 59-40 with 12:15 left. Kucera had seven points during the run.
Nate Meehan had 12 points off the bench to lead Brandeis, while Collin Sawyer and Latye Workman added 11 points each. Brandeis shot 33.3 percent (21-of-63) from the field, and hit just 6-of-30 from three-point range.
WashU wraps up a five-game homestand by hosting New York University (8-4, 1-1 UAA) on Sunday, Jan. 14, at Noon.
BEAR NOTEBOOK
• WashU leads the all-time series with Brandeis, 47-12, and the Bears have won four-straight meetings.
• Kucera went over 400 assists for his career, just the sixth player in school history to achieve the feat.
• Sanders has scored in double figures in 23-straight games.
• Senior center David Schmelter added 10 rebounds and is third in the UAA in rebounding (9.8).
• Play-by-Play announcer Jay Murry was honored at half for his 500th broadcast.
• Sanders moved into eighth in school history in free-throws made (296).