St. Louis, Mo., Nov. 26, 2019 – Junior guard Payden Webb scored all of his career-high 15 points in the first half to lead the No. 15-ranked Washington University in St. Louis men's basketball team to an 80-58 win over Webster University in the Battle of Big Bend Tuesday at the WU Field House in St. Louis.

WashU improved to 5-1 with the win, while Webster fell to 1-6. 

Junior guard Jack Nolan had 18 of his game-high 20 points in the second half. Nolan his 6-of-10 threes and also added a season-high four assists. Senior guard Matt Nester had 15 points and a season-high six assists, while sophomore forward Justin Hardy had his second-consecutive double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.

WashU shot 49.2 percent (29-59) from the field and hit a season-high 14 threes. The Bears outrebounded Webster 41-27, and had a 13-5 advantage in second-chance points.

WashU trailed 8-0 in the opening four minutes, going 0-for-3 from the field with four turnovers. Webb came in off the bench and gave the Bears a much-needed lift. He hit a three to trim the lead to 10-5, and then his second triple cut the advantage to 17-14.

Webb had seven points to ignite a 13-0 run as WashU jumped in front 29-21. Nester hit a pair of threes in the final 3:37 as WashU led 40-32 at the break. Webb had 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting in the first half as the Bears shot 51.6 percent (16-31) from the field and had an 8-2 advantage in second-chance points. 

Nolan scored 12 of the first 15 points for WashU to open the second half as the Bears took the 55-39 lead. The lead grew over 20 (64-43) following a three-pointer by senior DeVaughn Rucker and a lay-up from senior center Hank Hunter.

Rodson Etienne lead Webster with 17 points, while Enrique Tankins (13) and Josh Johnson (10) also scored in double figures. Webster shot 37.5 percent (21-56) from the field and hit just 4-of-19 from three-point range.

WashU continues a five-game home stand by hosting No. 17 Augustana College (Ill.) on Sunday, Dec. 1, at Noon.

BEAR NOTEBOOK: WashU leads the all-time series with Webster 24-3, and the Bears have won seven of the last eight contests … Nolan went over the 800-point plateau for his career.