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Second-Half Surge Lifts No. 13 Washington University to 20th Win and at Least Share of UAA Men's Basketball Title

Second-Half Surge Lifts No. 13 Washington University to 20th Win and at Least Share of UAA Men's Basketball Title
Posted: Feb 23, 2020

From Washington University Athletics

The No. 13-ranked Washington University in St. Louis men's basketball team opened the second half on a 13-3 run to lift the Bears to an 82-62 road win at New York University Sunday.

WashU improved to 20-4 and 11-2 in the University Athletic Association (UAA), while NYU dropped to 8-16 and 1-12 in the UAA. With WashU's win combined with Emory's loss, the Bears have claimed at least a share of its 16th UAA title in school history.

Senior DeVaughn Rucker led WashU with 20 points and 10 rebounds, while sophomore Justin Hardy (13) and junior Jack Nolan (13) also scored in double figures. Senior Jonathan Arenas was all over the court with a season-high nine points, nine rebounds, three steals and two assists.

WashU shot 50.8 percent (31-61) from the field, including 56.7 percent (17-30) in the second half. The Bears outrebounded NYU 39-29 and hit 11-of-14 from the free-throw line.

NYU took an early 8-2 advantage, and the Violets lead grew to 16-7 with 13:26 left that forced a WashU timeout. Junior Payden Webb connected on a three out of the timeout to highlight an 11-4 run as the Bears trimmed the advantage to 20-18.

Webb hit his second three and then WashU got two offensive rebounds which led to an open three by Hardy as the lead was trimmed to one (29-28). Arenas converted a three-point play to tie the score 31-31 with 2:57 left, and his bucket with less than a minute to go tied the score at 36-36.

Arenas and Hardy led the Bears with seven points apiece as WashU shot 45.2 percent (14-31) from the field and had a 7-2 advantage in second-chance points.

NYU missed its first eight shots from the field to start the second half and the Bears responded with a 13-3 run. Sophomores Charlie Jacob and Kameron Mack followed with back-to-back threes as the lead grew to 55-43 with 12:49 to play.

Nolan canned a wing three to give WashU a 20-point lead (73-53) with 4:45 to play. 

Nick Macarchuk led NYU with 12 points, while Ethan Feldman (11), Cade Hoppe (11) and Jimmy Martinelli (11) added 11 points each. The Violets were limited to 30.3 percent (10-33) shooting in the second half.

BEAR NOTEBOOK: WashU leads the all-time series with NYU, 51-15, and the Bears have won nine-straight meetings … The Bears have outrebounded 19 of 24 opponents this season … WashU has won 20 or more games for the 20th time in school history and 11th time in the last 14 seasons.